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According to Act ofCoxgrkss in t a^ ieab 1864. 

Bo lU. S. llVilliams U (Eompaiir 

In the Clsrk's Office of the DrsTRin' Court op the United States, 
For the District op Connecticut. 






The Female Spy 



OP THE 



UNION ARMY. 



THE 



THRILLING ADVENTURES, EXPERIENCES, AND ESCAPES 



OP 



A WOMAN, 

AS NURSE, SPY, AND SCOUT, IN HOSPITALS, 
CAMPS, AND BATTLE-FIELDS. 



BY 

S. EMMA E. EDMONDS. 



ilff |ltttn^r(rtt$ )fl(a$tr«lii>tt$* 



BOSTON 

DeWOLFE, FISKE, & CO., PUBLISHERS 

365 Washington Street 



C iP 



% 









1 



PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. 



No APOLOGY is necessary for adding one more to the numer- 
ous " War Books" which ah-eady fill a large space in American 
Literature; for, to the general reader, nothing connected with 
the Rebellion can be more interesting than the personal experi. 
ences of those who have been intimately associated with the 
different phases of military life, in Camp, Field, and Hospital. 

The " Nurse and Spy " is simj»ly a record of events which 
nave transpired in the experience and under the observation of 
one who has been on the field and participated in numerous 
battles — among which are the first and second Bull Run, Wil- 
hamsbufg, Fair Oaks, the Seven days in front of Richmond, 
Antietam, and Fredericksburg — serving in the capacity of 
" Spy " and as " Field Nurse " for over two years. 

While in the " Secret Service " as a " Spy," which is one of 
the most hazardous positions in the army — she penetrated the 
enemy's lines, in various disguises, no less than eleven times; 
always with complete success and without detection. 

Ilcr efficient labors in the different Hospitals as well as her 
arduous duties as " Field Nurse," embrace many thrilUng and 
touching incidents, which are her? most graphically described. 



b NURSEANDSPY. 

Should any of her readers object to some of her disguises, it 
may be sufficient to remind tliein it was from the purest mo- 
tives and most praiseworthy patriotism, that she laid aside, for a 
time, her own costume, and assumed that of the opposite sex, 
enduring- hardships, suffering untohl privations, and hazarding 
her life for her adopted c'>iM)try in its trying hour of need. 

In the opinion of many, it is the privilege of woman to minis- 
ter to the sick and soothe tne sorrowing — and in the present crisis 
of our countr ;'& history, to aid our brothers to the extent of her 
cacacitv — and whether duty leads her to the couch of luxury, 
the abode of poverty, the crowded hospital, or the terrible bat- 
tle field — it makes but little difference what costume she as- 
sumes while in the discharge of her duties. — Perhaps she 
should have the privilege of choosing for herself whatever may 
be the surest protection from insult and inconvenience in her 
blessed, self-sacrificing work. 

In the composition of this work free use has been made of 
Dr. n. B. Ilackett^s "Christian Memorials of the War." 

The moral character of the work, — being true to virtue, pat- 
riotism, and philanthropy — together with the fine embellish- 
ments and neat mechanical execution — will, we trust, render 
it an interesting and welcome visitor at every fireside. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

Pages 17-28. 

COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR MY HOME AND MY DUTY T 

ENLIST IN THE CAUSE EXCITEMENT AT THE WEST TROOPS 

ON THE MARCH MOBS AT BALTIMORE TEMPORARY HOSPI- 
TALS UNAVOIDABLE EVILS BEGGING FOR COMFORTS — SUP- 
PLIES FOR THE SICK CAMP HOSPITALS THUNDER STORMS 

IN CAMP A DYING OFFICER SOLDIERS IN THE PUBLIC 

BUILDINGS PREPARATIONS FOR THE ADVANCE. 

CHAPTER 11. 

Pages 29-41. 
MARCHING ORDERS REMOVAL OF THE SICK A YOUNG PA- 
TIENT VISIT FROM HIS MOTHER MARCH TOWARD MANASSAS 

COLLECTING SUPPLIES FATIGUES OF THE MARCH PREPA- 
RATIONS FOR BATTLE A CAMP PRAYER MEETING DIVISIONS 

DETAILED MY PLACE ON THE FIELD " RATHER CLOSE QUAR- 
TERS " A BATTLE SUNDAY SKULKING FROM THE FIELD. 

CHAPTER HI. 

Pages 41-54. 

WATER FOR THE WOUNDED COL. CAMERON KILLED SCENES ON 

THE BATTLE-FIELD BURNSIDe's BRIGADE CAPTURE OF GRIF- 

FIN's AND RICKETt's BATTERIES REBELS REINFORCED THE 

PANIC AND RETREAT THE WOUNDED AT CENTERVILLE MY 

RECONNOISSANCE AN INSANE WOMAN ON THE FIELD HIDING 

FROM THE ENEMY RETURN TO THE WOUNDED EXPECTATION 

OF CAPTURE ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS MY WALK TO ALEX- 
ANDRIA FOOTSORE AND WEARY ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON — • 

LETTERS FROM DEAD SOLDIERs' FRIENDS. 



8 NURSE AND SPY. 

CHAPTER lY. 

Pages 55-70. 
WASHINGTON AFTER BULL RUN— DEMORALIZATION OF THE ARMY 

SICK SOLDIERS HOSPITAL SCENES EXTRACTS FROM MY 

JOURNAL— SYMPATHY OF SOLDIERS— FISHING FOR THE SICK— 

A FISH-LOVING DUTCHMAN— REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY 

A VISIT TO THE PICKETS PICKET DUTIES AND DANGERS 

THE ARMY INACTIVE— MC CLELLAn's ADDRESS MARCHING OR- 
DERS AGAIN— EMBARKATION OF THE ARMY FOR FORTRESS 
MONROE— THE CROWDED TRANSPORTS— DESCRIPTION OF THE 
MONITOR— HER BUILD, ARMAMENT, TURRET AND ENGINES. 

CHAPTER V. 

Pages 71-82. 

ARRIVAL AT FORTRESS MONROE THE VILLAGE OF HAMPTON 

VISITING THE CONTRABANDS ARRIVAL OF FUGITIVES A 

REAL "CAMP meeting" FEEDING THE NEGROES CAMP 

MISERIES MULES— MISS PERIWINKLe's MULES THE COQUET- 
TISH, THK MOKAL, THE HISTRIONIC, AND THE PATHETIC MULE 

—OUR JACK LINES OF LOVE MY BOX AND PRESENTS A 

THREE-STORY CAKE A SERENADE AND SURPRISE PARTY 

GOOD AND BAD CHAPLAINS THE MORALS OF THE ARMY 

SLANDERS ABOUT SOLDIERS. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Pages 82-97. 

THE MARCH TO YORKTOWN— SCARCITY OF SUPPLIES CAMP 

COOKERY DIFFERENT CHARACTERS IN THE ARMY ARRIVAL 

OF TRAINS CHANGE OF CAMP TRYING TO SHELL US OUT 

THE OLD SAW-MILL A CONSTANT TARGET ASSAULTS ON OUR 

OUTPOSTS A REBEL APPEAL YORKTOWN AND VICINITY 

THE SITUATION BALLOON RECONNOISSANCES PROF. LOWE ON 

HIGH REBEL VIXENS A CURIOUS VISIT A STRANGE HOST- 
ESS SHE TRIES TO KILL ME 1 WOUND HER AND CAPTURE 

A PRISONER A CONVERSION- THE SECESH WOMAN BECOMES 

A FEDERAL NURSE. 



CONTENTS. 9 

CHAPTER YII. 

Pages 97-109. 

A LOST FRIEND DEATH OF LIEUTENANT JAMES V. HIS BURIAL 

THE GRAVE BY NIGHT MY VOW A SOLDIER-CHAPLAIN 

RECOGNITIONS IN HEAVEN DOUBTS AND DISSATISFACTION 

CAPTURE OF A SPY MV EXAMINATIONS AT HEADQUARTERS 

MY DISGUISE AS A SPY 1 AM METAMORPHOSED INTO A 

CONTRABAND HIRED AS A COOK BISCUIT MAKING THE 

doctor's TEA. 

CHAPTER YIIL 

Pages 110-121. 

MY FIRST SECRET EXPEDITION MY WORK AMONG CONTRA- 
BANDS PICKAXE, SHOVEL AND WHEELBARROW COUNTING 

THE GUNS IN A REBEL FORTIFICATION A CHANGE OF WORK 

CARRYING WATER TO THE REBEL SOLDIERS GENERALS LEE 

AND JOHNSON THE REBEL FORCE AT YORKTOWN A COUN- 
CIL OF WAR TUKNING WHITE AGAIN A REBEL SPY LIEU- 
TENANT V.'S MURDERER ON PICKET DUTY MY RETURN TO 

OUR LINES 1 PUT ON UNIFORM AND MAKE MY REPORT. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Pages 122-137. 

EVACUATION OF YORKTOWN OUR ARMY ON THE DOUBLE 

QUICK PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES THE ENEMy's WORKS 

A BATTLE ON THE FIELD A " WOUNDED," AND NOT IN- 
JURED COLONEL CARRYING THE WOUNDED FORT MAGRU- 

DER SlLENCl THE VICTORY WON BURYING THE DEAD 

STORY OF A RING WOUNDED REBELS A BRAVE YOUNG 

SERGEANT CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS A SOLDIER's DEATH-BED — 

CLOSING scenes LAST WORDS. 



10 NURSE AND SPY. 

CHAPTER X. 

Pacres 137-146. 



FORCEMENTS NEWS FROM NORFOLK DESCRIPTION OF THE 

MEllRIMAC THE ENGAGEMENT IN HAMPTON ROADS FIRST 

AND LAST FIGHT OF THE MERRIMAC VICTORY OF THE MONI- 
TOR ADVANCE ON THE PENINSULA THE BATTLE SONG— A 

MUDDY MARCH ON THE CHICKAHOMINY CRITICAL POSITION 

OF GENERAL BANKS THE PRESIDENT'S DESPATCHES MC- 

CLELLAn's REPLY. 



CHAPTER XL 

Pages 147-160. 



ANOTHER DISGUISE 1 BECOME AN IRISH PEDDLER FEVER AND 

AGUE A NIGHT OF SUFFERING IN THE SWAMP RETKOSPEC- 

TION LOST IN THE SWAMP CANNON MY GUIDES A SICK 

REBEL 1 FIND SOMETHING TO EAT MY NEW PATIENT 

SYMPATHY FOR SUFFERING TALK WITH A DYING REBEL 

A WILLING DETENTION EXTEMPORIZING A LIGHT THE LAST 

HOUR SOLDIERS OF CHRIST THE CHAMBER OF DEATH. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Pages 161-173. 

AM I A STOIC? someone's DARLING COMPLETING MY DIS- 
GUISE ANOTHER START FOR THE REBEL LINES PEPPERING 

MY EYES CHALLENGED BY A PICKET A COCKNEY SENTINEL 

GETTING INFORMATION PLENTY OF BEEF, BUT NO SALT 

RICE AND CORN MEAL BRE^D PREPARING TO VISIT HEAD- 
QUARTERS INTERVIEW WITH MAJOR MC KEE — THE MAJOr's 

MISPLACED CONFIDENCE — RETURN FOR THE BODY OF THE 
REBEL CAPTAIN MY LOOK-OUT FOR YANKEES NEW ORDERS. 



CONTENTS. 11 

CHAPTER XIIL 

Pages 173-186. 

OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CHICKAHOMINY — PORTEr's 

SUCCESSES — DESPATCHES TO THE PRESIDENT — HIS REPLY 

HANOVER COURT HOUSE — TERRIBLE STORM AND FLOOD 

HOPES OF THE ENEMY A SUDDEN AND STRONG ATTACK 

I ACT AS AN ORDERLY THROUGH THE FLOOD MY RETURN 

AND REPORT JOYFUL NEWS MY OWN DISASTER SCENES 

IN THE OLD MILL WAITING ON THE WOUNDED MY SUFFER- 
INGS BY THE ROADSIDE A HARD-HEARTED CHAPLAIN- —A 

STUMBLING BLOCK. 

CHAPTER XIY. 

Pages 186-196. 

RENEWAL OF THE BATTLE VICTORY FOR THE FEDERAL ARMS 

ADDRESS TO THE ARMY MORE DESPATCHES MV BAITLE TRO- 
PHY—PONY REb's performances — THE HOSPITAL TREE 

TOUCHING SCENES BISHOP SIMPSON THE CROSS AND THE 

FLAG AFTER THE BATTLE — DELAYS BY STORMS, FLOODS AND 

MUD MC CLELLAn's CALL FOR MORE VtlEN- "IN READINESS TO 

MARCH PROMISED REINFORCEMENTS. 

CHAPTER XY. 

Pages 197-206. 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE VISIT TO THE WILLIAMSBURG HOSPITALS 

EFFECTIVE PREACHING YORKTOWN REVISITED — LONGINGS 

WHITE HOUSE LANDING TIRED OF IDLENESS — PREPARATIONS 

TO RETURN TO DUTY — STUART's CAVALRY RAID A TRAIN 

FIRED INTO FAIR OAKS GROVE THE STRENGTH OF THE EN- 
EMY TRYING TIMES ON THE PENINSULA THE ENDURANCBi 

OF OUR SOLDIERS — LABORS OF MR. ALVORD. 



12 NUBSE AND SPY. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Pages 207-219. 

CHANGE OF BASE ACROSS THE PENINSULA EVACUATION OP 

AVHITE HOUSE — THE MOVEMENT BATTLE OF MECHANICS- 

VILLE GAINES' MILL A REPULSE MC CLELLAn's DESPATCH 

HOSPITALS IN DANGER — CONVALESCENT OFFICERS LENDING 

MV HORSE A LOTTERY INSPECTING FARM STOCK CATCHING 

A COLT DANGER OF CAPTURE — RIDING FOR LIFE BETWEEN 

TWO FIRES. 

> 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Pages 219-233. •* 
WITHDRAWAL TO MALVERN HILL THE SOLDIEr's LAST WATCH 

Trowbridge's grave — scenes in a hospital — capture of 

THE wounded — A NOBLE SURGEON LINE OF BATTLE HARD 

FIGHTING — THE ENEMY REPULSED HUNTING FOR FOOD IN A 

FARM-HOUSE PERILOUS POSITION SECURING THE SPOILS 

RELIEF OF THE FAMISHING SUBLIME SCENE — ON THE 

MARCH — GENERAL KEYE^^ — GUN-BOATS — ARRIVAL AT HARRI- 

SOn's landing SAD CONDITION OF TROOPS OUR LOSSES 

MC CLELLAn's address to THE ARMY 

CHAPTER XYIII. 

Pages 233-248. 

RETURN OF OLD ACQU AIN'TANCES— THE WOUNDED COLONEL 1 

VISIT WASHINGTON MILITARY DISPLAY EPAULETS ARISTOC- 
RACY — SPIRIT OF JOHNNY BULL SOLDIERs' FREE LIBRARY 

CONTRABAND CAMP NEGRO TESTIMONY PATIENT CHARLEY 

PAINFUL POSITION BROTHEr's LAST CONVERSATION — RETURN 

TO THE ARMY — CHRISTIAN COMMISSION GENERAL HOWARD's 

SPEECH. 



CONTENTS. 13 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Pages 249-260. 

MY CONSTANT COMPANION DISPELLING THE BLUES GENTLE 

NELLIE FACES IN THE HOSPITAL ASLEEP AND AWAKE MY 

HORSE AGAIN AT HARRISOn's LANDING IMPATIENT TO MOVE 

DISSATISFACTION IN THE ARMY RETREAT FROM RICHMOND 

RETURN TO NEWPORT NEWS—SUSPICIOUS QUARTERS— SEARCHING 
THE HOUSE AND FINDING REBEL SOLDIERS — THANKS TO THE 
ARMY — OUR ARRIVAL AT ACQUIA CREEK. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Pages 261-273. 

pope's army A GENERAL S REQUEST AGAIN A CONTRABAND— 

ENTERING} THE REBEL LINES AS A SPY MY ESCAPE TO THE 

FEDERAL LINES IN PERIL KEARNEY KILLED CRAWLING 

THROUGH THE WOODS BURIAL OF A PICKET LOOKING FOR 

A GENERAL MR. NEGATIVE MC CLELLAN AND POPE THE 

BATTLE OF ANTIETAM A TOUCHING DEATH-SCENE AN IN- 
TERESTING PATIENT BURIAL OF A FEMALE SOLDIER. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Pages 273-285. 

AFTER ANTIETAM SURGEONS ON THE FIELD THE HOSPITALS 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DWIGHT MORTALLY WOUNDED A BRU- 
TAL SURGEON A WOUNDED CAPTAIN AGONY FROM THIRST 

CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS PRAYING AND FIGHTING FOPS ON 

THE FIELD A REBEL PROGRAMME — PENNSYLVANIA TO BE 

STRIPPED CAMP LIFE — DAILY ROUTINE BURIAL SERVICES. 



14 NURSE AND SPY. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Pages 286-296. 

A MILITARY EXECUTION- — THE PREPARATIONS THE DEATH 

harper's ferry OLD JOHN BROWN CONTRAST ADVANCE 

INTO VIRGINIA CONDITION OF THE ARMY A DREARY RIDE 

A GREEN GUARD SEEKING SHELTER A GUERRILLA FIGHT 

MY HORSE KILLED PLAYING POSSUM MY POCKETS PICKED 

A NARROW ESCAPE RETURN TO CAMP AN INTERESTING 

MEETING. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Pages 297-308 

MC CLELLAN REMOVED HIS ADDRESS — BURNSIDE IN COMMAND 

ON THE MARCH MY RIDE OLD BATTLEFIELDS SAD SIGHTS 

" YANKEE SKULLS " " BONE ORNAMENTS " FALMOUTH 

SHELLING FREDERICKSBURG PONTOON BRIDGES OCCUPATION 

OF THE CITY AIDE-DE-CAMP DREADFUL SLAUGHTER A GAL- 
LANT MAJOR — STRANGE SIGHTS DARK NIGHT DEATH OF 

GENERAL BAYARD — SOMEONe's PET RECROSSING THE RAP- 
PAHANNOCK. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Pages 309-318. 

AFTER THE BATTLE SUFFERINGS OF THE WOUNDED GENERAL 

BURNSIDE's order " STUCK IN THE MUD " HOOKER IN COlT 

MAND — WESTERN CAMPAIGN CAVALRY RECONNOISSANCE 

ANOTHER DISGUISE AGAIN IN DIXIE A WEDDING PARTY 

IN A TRAP — REBEL CONSCRIPT ON THE MARCH A REBEL 

CAPTAIN A FIERCE ENGAGEMENT PAYING A DEBT OF GRAT- 
ITUDE AGAIN UNDER THE OLD FLAG. 



CONTENTS, 15 

CHAPTER XXy. 

Pages 319-330. 

APPOINTED DETECTIVE 1 VISIT LOUISVILLE SECESH ACQUAINT- 
ANCES SEEKING EMPLOYMENT PEDDLING REBEL SPIES 

ACTING AS CLERK TRAPPING SPIES START FOR VICKSBURG 

PRO-SLAVERY TROOPS CRUELTY TO NEGROES VISITING HOS- 
PITALS TOUCHING SCENES AN ARMLESS SOLDIER PATIENT 

SUFFERING— T-TRIUMPHANT DEATH RALLY ROUND THE FLAG 

WESTERN CHAPLAINS SOLDIERS* TESTIMONY EFFECT OF 

PRAYER IN BATTLE — CARRYING THE WOUNDED. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

Pages 331-340. 

A UNIONIST FROM THE REBEL ARMY HIS TESTIMONY SOUTH- 
ERN HOSPITALS PATRIOTISM FEMALE RECRUITING CRINO- 
LINE "SWEET LITTLE MAN " CONFEDERATE SYSTEM — NORTH 

AND SOUTH CONTRASTED REBEL IMPRESSMENT BROTHERS' 

CRUELTY DYING FOR THE UNION FATE OF A TENNESSEE 

PATRIOT ON THE MISSISSIPPI INVISIBLE ATTRACTION AN 

IMPORTANT QUESTION MORAL SUBLIMITY CONTRABANDS JU' 

BILEE. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

Pages 341-353. 

ARRIVAL AT VICKSBURG ITS SURROUNDINGS QRANt's ARMY — - 

ASSAULT ON THE REBEL WORKS THE SEVEN COLOR-BEARERS 

PEMBERTOn's HARANGUE IN THE TRENCHES — SUFFERINGS 

OF THE WOUNDED PEMBERTOn's PROPOSED CAPITULATION 

grant's reply TERMS OF SURRENDER OCCUPATION OF THE 

CITY LOSS OF THE ENEMY COMPLIMENTARY LETTER 

grant's SUCCESS ATTACHMENT OF HIS SOLDIERS "FIGHT- 
ING dick" GOLD LACE REBEL SUFFERINGS — SIGHTS IN 

VICKSBURG — INCIDENTS OF THE SIEGE — CAVE LIFE. 



1(> NURSE AND SPY. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Pages 353-362. 

WESTERN GIBRALTAR THE "LEAD MINERS " THE PALMETTO 

EXCHANGED FOR THE STARS AND STRIPES — ENTHUSIASM OF 

TROOPS SUFFERINGS FOROOTIEN 1 AM ATTACKED BY FEVER 

UNFIT FUR DUTY " VICKSBURG IS OURS " SPIRIT YEARN- 
INGS "rock ME TO SLEEP MOTHER " IMPOSITION OF 

STEAMBOAT OFFICERS GRANT^S CARE FOR HIS MEN 

BURSTING OF A SHELL IN CAMP CONSEQUENCES SPEECH- 
LESS AGONY 1 AM RELEASED FROM DUTY MY TRIP TO 

CAIRO — MISS MARY SAFFORD ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

Pages 362-373. 

REVIEW OF HOSPITAL AND CAMP LIFE QUESTIONS ANSWERED 

BEHIND THE SCENES BLESSED EMPLOYMENT LIVING PAST 

SCENES OVER AGAIN MY MOST IMPORTANT LABORS — MOTHER 

AND SON STRANGE POWER OF SYMPATHY HERo's REPOSE 

OFFICERS AND MEN THE BRAVEST ARE KINDEST GENERAL 

SEDGWICK BATTLE SCENES MR. ALVORd's DESCRIPTION 

VOLUNTEER SURGEONS HEART SICKENING SIGHTS AN AWFUL 

PICTURE FEMALE NURSES SENTIMENTAL — PATRIOTIC MEDI- 
CAL DEPARTMENT YOUNG SURGEONS ANECDOTES. 

CHAPTER XXX. 

Pages 374-384. 

CLOSING INCIDENTS — PROFESSOR LOWe's BALLOON FITZ JOHN 

porter's adventure HIS UPWARD FLIGHT RECONNOITERINO 

FROM A DANGEROUS POSITION — COOL COURAGE ENTHUSIAS- 
TIC GREETING AN EARNEST INQUIRER A BAPTISM IN THE 

ARMY PREACHING BY MOONLIGHT A MAGNIFICENT SCENE — 

A WEDDING IN CAMP GAY TIMES A CONTRAST HOSPITAL IN 

WINCHESTER SPIRIT OF REVENGE — SABLE HEROINE A WHITE 

DARKEY — COLORED SOLDIERS CONCLUSION. 



NURSE AND SPY. 



CHAPTER I. 

COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR MY HOME AND MY DUTY 1 

ENLIST IN THE CAUSE EXCITEMENT AT THE WEST TROOPS 

ON THE MARCH MOBS AT BALTIMORE TEMPORARY HOSPI- 

TALS^-UNAVOIDABLE EVILS BEGGING FOR COMFORTS — SUP- 
PLIES FOR TH.T SICK CAMP HoSl'ITALS THUKDER STORMS 

IN CAMP A DYING OFFICER SOLDIERS IN THE PUBLIC 

BUILDINGS PREPARATIONS FOR THE ADVANCE. 

EARLY in the spring of 1861, I was returning 
from the far West, and as I sat waiting for 
the train which was to bear me to my adopted 
home in New England, and was meditating upon 
the events which had transpired during the past 
few months, the record of which was destined to 
blacken the fair pages of American history, I was 
aroused from my reverie by a voice in the street 
crying " New York Herald — Fall of Fort Sumter 
— President's Proclamation — Call for seventy -five 
thousand men !" This announcement startled me, 
while my imagination portrayed the coming strug- 
gle in all its fearful magnitude. War, civil war, 
with all its horrors seemed inevitable, and even 
then was ready to burst like a volcano upon the 



18 MY HOME MY DUTY. 

most happy and prosperous nation the sun ever 
shone upon. The contemplation of this sad pic- 
ture filled my eyes with tears and my heart with 
sorrow. 

It is true, I was not an American — I was not 
obliged to remain here during this terrible strife — 
I could return to my native land where my pa- 
rents would welcome me to the home of my child- 
hood, and my brothers and sisters would rejoice 
at my coming. But these were not the thoughts 
which occupied my mind. It was not my inten- 
tion, or desire, to seek my own personal ease and 
comfort while so much sorrow and distress filled 
the land. But the great question to be decided, 
was, what can I do ? What part am /to act in 
this great drama ? I was not able to decide for 
myself — so I carried this question tg the Throne 
of Grace, and found a satisfactory answer there. 

Five years previous to the time of which I 
write, I left my rural home, not far from the banks 
of the St. John's River, in the Province of New 
Brunswick, and made my way to the United 
States. An insatiable thirst for education led me 
to do this, for I believed then, as now, that the 
'' Foreign Missionary " field was the one in which 
I must 'labor, sooner or later. I came here a 
stranger, with but little to recommend me to the 
favorable notice of the good people, except a 
letter from the Pastor of the church to which I 
belonged, and one from my class-leader — notwith- 



I ENLIST IN THE CAUSE. 19 

standing, I found kind friends to help me in all my 
undertakings, and whether in business, education, 
or spiritual advancement, I have been assisted 
beyond my highest expectation. I thank God 
that I am permitted in this hour of my adopted 
country's need to express a tithe of the gratitude 
which I feel toward the people of the Northern 
States. 

Ten days after the President's proclamation 
was issued, I was ready to start for Washington, 
having been employed by the Government, and 
furnished with all the necessary equipments. I 
was not merely to go to Washington and remain 
there until a battle had been fought and the 
wounded brought in, and then in some comfortable 
hospital sit quietly and fan the patients, after the 
Surgeon had dressed their wounds ; but I was to 
go to the front and participate in all the excite- 
ment of the battle scenes, or in other words, be a 
"Field Nurse." 

The great West was stirred to its center, and 
began to look like a vast military camp. Recruit- 
ing offices were filled with men eager to enroll 
their names as defenders of their country — and 
women were busily engaged in preparing all the 
comforts that love and patriotism could suggest, 
for those who were so soon to go forth to victory 
or to death, w^hile the clash of arms and strains 
of martial music almost drowned the hum of indus- 
try, and war became the theme of every tongue. 



20 TROOPS ON THE MARCH. 

About this time I witnessed the departure of 
the first western troops which started for Wash- 
ington. The regiments were drawn up in line — 
fully equipped for their journey — with their bright 
bayonets flashing in the morning sunlight. It was 
on the principal street of a pleasant little village 
of about a thousand inhabitants, where there was 
scarcely a family who had not a father, husband, 
son, or brother in that little band of soldiers who 
stood there ready to bid them farewell, perhaps 
for years — perhaps forever. A farewell address 
was delivered by the village Pastor, and a new 
Testament presented to each soldier, with the fol- 
lowing inscription : " Put your trust in God — and 
keep your powder dry." Then came the leave- 
taking — but it is too painful to dwell upon — the 
last fond word was spoken, the last embrace given, 
then came the order " march " — and amid the 
cheers of the citizens — with banners proudly 
floating, and the bands playing " The Star Span- 
gled Banner," they moved forward on their way 
to the Capital. On looking back now upon the 
scenes of that morning, notwithstanding I have 
looked upon others much more thrilling since then, 
yet I cannot recall that hour without feelings of 
deep emotion. While I stood there and beheld 
those manly forms convulsed with emotion, and 
heard the sobs of those whom they were leaving 
behind, I could only thank God that I was free 
and could go forward and work, and was not 



MOBS AT BALTIMORE. 21 

obliged to stay at home and weep. A few hours 
more, and I, too, was on mj way to Washington. 

When I reached Baltimore I found the city in 
an uproar — mobs were gathered in the streets and 
the utmost excitement prevailed : and as the 
crowded cars moved through the city toward the 
depot, the infuriated mob threw showers of stones, 
brickbats, and other missiles, breaking the windows 
and wounding some of the soldiers. Some of the 
men could not forbear firing into the crowd — 
notwithstanding their orders were to the contrary 
— however, it had a good effect, for the mob soon 
dispersed ; they probably had not forgotten the 
Sixth Massachusetts and the Pennsylvania troops 
which had passed through a short time before. 
The cars soon reached the depot, and started 
immediately for Washington — where we arrived 
in due time — weary, and in great need of food 
and sleep. 

Soon after reaching Washington I commenced 
visiting the temporary hospitals which were pre- 
pared to receive the soldiers whe arrived there 
sick. The troops came pouring in so fast, and the 
weather being extremely warm, all the general 
hospitals were soon filled, and it seemed impossi- 
ble to prepare suitable, or comfortable, accommo- 
dations for all who required medical attention. 

There are many things in connection with this 
war thnt we are disposed to find fdult with, and 
we think the blame rests upon such and such 



22 TEMPORARY HOSPITALS. 

individuals — but after investigating the matter, 
we find that they are all owing to a combination 
of circumstances entirely beyond the control of 
those individuals — and it requires time to bring 
about the desired results. This has been my ex' 
perience with regard to the hospital department. 
After walking through the streets for hours on 
a sultry southern day in search of one of those 
temporary hospitals, I would find a number of men 
there delirious with fever — others had been sun- 
struck and carried there — but no physician to be 
found in attendance. Then, I would naturally 
come to the conclusion that the surgeons were all 
slack concerning their duty — but upon going to 
the office of the Surgeon in charge of that de- 
partment, would find that a certain number of 
surgeons were detailed every morning to visit 
those liospitals, and were faithfully performing 
their duty ; but that the number of hospitals and 
patients were increasing so fast that it required 
all day to make the tour. Consequently the last 
ones visited were obliged to wait and suffer — 
without any blame attaching to the surgeons. 

Then another great evil was to be remedied — 
there were thousands of sick men to be taken care 
of — but for these the Government had made no 
provision as regards more delicate kinds of food 
— nothing but hard bread, coffee and pork, for 
sick and well, alike. The Sanitary Commission 
had not yet come into operation and the conse- 



BEGGING FOR COMFORTS. 23 

quence was our poor sick soldiers suifered un- 
speakably from want of proper nourishment. I 
was speaking upon this subject one day to Chap- 
lain B. and his wife — my constant companions in 
hospital labor — when Mrs. B. suggested that she 
and I should appeal to the sympathies of the 
ladies of Washington and Georgetown, and try 
our hand at begging. I agreed to the proposal 
at once, and wondered why I had not thought of 
it myself — among all my schemes for alleviating 
the sufferings of these men, it had never entered 
into my head to heg for them. We decided to go 
to Georgetown first and if we succeeded there, 
to canvass Washington. So we started, and com- 
menced operations by calling first upon a clergy- 
man's wife. We made inquiry there with regard 
to our prospects of success, and the sentiments 
of the ladies generally upon the war question, 
and finding that the majority were in our favor, 
we started again quite hopefully — but not until 
the lady above mentioned had given us an order 
on her grocer to the amount of five dollars. I 
gave Sister B. the credit of that, for I had intro- 
duced her as the wife of the Rev. Mr. B., chap- 
lain of the 7th. Then I suggested that we should 
separate for a few hours — she to take one street 
and I another, so that we might sooner get 
through the city. My next call was at a doctor's 
mansion, but I did not find the lady at home ; 
however, I learned that the doctor in question 



24 SUPPLIES FOR THE SICK. 

kept a drug-store near by ; she might be there ; 
went, but found no lady ; thought fit to make my 
business known to the doctor, and the conse- 
quence was, half a dozen bottles of blackberry 
wine and two of lemon syrup, with a cordial in- 
vitation to call again. So prospered our mission 
throughout the day, and at the close of it we had 
a sufficient supply of groceries, brandy, ice, jellies, 
etc., to fill our little ambulance; and oh, what a 
change those little delicacies wrought upon our 
poor sick boys. We were encouraged by that 
day's work, to continue our efforts in that direc- 
tion, and finally made Dr. W.'s store a depot for 
the donations of those kind friends who wished 
to assist us in restoring to health the defenders of 
our beloved country. 

Typhoid fever began to make its appearance in 
camp, as the burning sun of June came pouring 
down upon us, and the hospitals were soon crowd- 
ed with its victims. It was then that my labors 
began in earnest, and as I went from tent to tent, 
ministering to the wants of those delirious, help- 
less men, I wondered if there ever was a " Mis- 
sionary Field " which promised a richer harvest, 
than the one in which I was already engaged; 
and oh, how thankful I was that it was my privi- 
lege to take some small part in so great a work. 

I shall notice, briefly, the manner in which the 
hospitals are conducted in camp. There are large 
tents furnished for hospital purposes, which will 



CAMP HOSPITALS. 25 

accommodate from twenty to twenty-five men. 
These tents are usually put up in the most pleasant 
and shady part of the camp ; the inside is nicely 
leveled, and board floors laid, if boards can be 
procured, if not, rubber blankets are laid down 
instead. Sometimes there are straw ticks and 
cot bedsteads furnished, but not in sufficient quan- 
tity to supply all the hospitals. Along each side 
of the tent the sick are laid, on blankets or cots, 
leaving room to pass between the beds. In the 
center of the tent stands a temporary board table, 
on which are kept books, medicines, et cetera. 
The hospital corps^ consists of a surgeon, an assist- 
ant surgeon, a hospital steward, a ward-master, 
four nurses, two cooks, and a man of all work to 
carry water, cut wood, and make himself generally 
useful. The immediate care of the sick devolves 
upon those four nurses, who are generally detail- 
ed from the ranks, each one being on duty six 
hours without intermission. The surgeons visit 
the patients twice every day, oftener if required ; 
the prescriptions are filled by the hospital steward, 
and the medicine is administered by the nurses. 
The nurses are usually very kind to the sick, and 
when off duty in the hospital, spend much of their 
time in digging drains around the tents, planting 
evergreens, and putting up awnings, all of which 
add much to the coolness and comfort of the hos- 
pital. Draining the grounds is a very important 
part of hospital duty, for when those terrible 



26 TERRIFIC THUNDER STORMS. 

thunder-storms come, which are so frequent in the 
south, it is morally impossible to keep the tent 
floors from being flooded, unless there are drains 
all around the tents. Great excitement prevails 
in camp during those tempests — the rain comes 
down in torrents, while the wind blows a hurri- 
cane — ^lifting the tents from the ground, and 
throwing everything into wild confusion. I have 
seen a dozen men stand for hours around one hos- 
pital, holding down the ropes and tent poles to 
prevent the sick from being exjjosed to the raging 
elements. 

In one of those storms, I saw a tent blown 
down, in which one of our officers lay suffering 
from typhoid fever. We did our best to keep 
him dry until a stretcher could be procured, but 
all in vain. Notwithstanding we wrapped him in 
rubber blankets and shawls, yet the rain penetra- 
ted them all, and by the time he was carried to a 
house, a quarter of a mile distant, he was com- 
pletely drenched. He was a noble fellow and I 
love to speak of him. Mrs. B. and I remained with 
him alternately until he died, which was five days 
from that time. We sent for his wife, who ar- 
rived just in time to see him die. He was un- 
conscious when she came, and we were standing 
around his cot watching every shadow which the 
sable wing of advancing death cast upon his fea- 
tures, and eagerly looking for a single ray of re- 
turning reason. He looked up suddenly, and 



A DYING OFFICER. 27 

seeing his wife standing weeping, he beckoned 
her to come to him. Kneeling beside him, she 
bent her ear close to the lips of the dying man. 
He whispered distinctly, " I am going — the way 
is bright, don't weep — farewell !" A little later 
he was asked, " What is the foundation of your 
hope of Heaven ?" His face was calm and beau- 
tiful in its expression, and his splendid dark eyes 
lit up with holy confidence and trust, as he re- 
plied, "Christ — Christ!" These were his last 
words. Glorious Avords for a dying soldier. He 
lingered a few hours, and then quietly and peace- 
fully breathed out his life. So passed away one 
of the most exemplary men it has ever been my 
lot to meet, either in the army or elsewhere The 
same day, the sorrowing widow, with the remains 
of her beloved and noble husband, started for 
her northern home ; and that christian patriot now 
sleeps in a beautiful little cemetery near the city 
of Detroit, Michigan, having rendered up his life 
a willing sacrifice for his country. 

Mrs. B. was desirous of visiting some of the 
public buildings ir^ Washington and wished me to 
accompany her. I did so, but found that it was 
almost impossible to get along through the crowd- 
ed streets. The gallant troops were coming in by 
thousands from every loyal State in the Union. 
The Capitol and White House were common pla- 
ces of resort for soldiers. Arms were stacked in 
the rotunda of the one and the lobbies of the 



28 THE GRAND ARMY. 

other, while our " noble boys m blue " lounged in 
the cushioned seats of members of Congress, or 
reclined in easy chairs in the President's Mansion. 
Camps of instruction were prepared near the 
city, while every hillside and valley for miles 
around was thickly dotted with snow white tents. 
Soldiers drilling, fatigue parties building forts, 
artillery practicing, and the supply trains moving 
to and from the various headquarters, presented 
a picture deeply interesting. As I rode from 
camp to camp and contemplated that immense 
army concentrating its force on the banks of the 
Potomac, and saw with what zeal and enthusiasm 
the soldiers entered upon their duties, I could but 
feel assured of the speedy termination of the 
conflict, and look forward Avith eager anticipation 
to the day when that mighty host would advance 
upon the enemy, and like an overwhelming tor- 
rent sweep rebellion from the land. 



CHAPTER II. 

MARCHING ORDERS REMOVAL OF THE SICK — A YOUNG PA- 
TIENT VISIT FROM HIS MOTHER MARCH TOWARD MANASSAS 

COLLECTING SUPPLIES FATIGUES OF THE MARCH PREPA- 
RATIONS FOR BATTLE A CAMP PRAYER MEETING DIVISIONS 

DETAILED MY PLACE ON THE FIELD " RATHER CLOSE QUAR- 
TERS " A BATTLE SUNDAY SKULKING FROM THE FIELD. 

MARCHING ORDERS received to-day-^ -two 
days more, and the Army of the Potomac 
will be on its way to Bull Run. I find this reg- 
istered in my journal July 15th, 1861, without 
any comment whatever. But I do not require a 
journal to refresh my memory with regard to the 
events of those two days of preparation which 
followed their announcement. The Army of the 
Potomac was soon to meet the enemy for the first 
time — a great battle was to be fought. Oh, what 
excitement and enthusiasm that order produced — 
nothing could be heard but the wild cheering of 
the men, as regiment after regiment received their 
orders. The possibility of a defeat never seemed 
to enter the mind of any. All the sick in camp 
now were to be sent to Washington, clothes 
changed, knapsacks packed, letters written home, 
packages sent to the express office, etc. After all 
was done, everything in readiness, and the sick 
men tenderly laid in the ambulances, Mrs. B. said : 



30 A YOUNG PATIENT. 

*' Now let us go to every ambulance and bid the 
boys good-bye." As we passed along from one 
ambulance to another, speaking words of encour- 
agement to each soldier, many a tear would start 
from grateful eyes, and many a feeble voice utter- 
ed an earnest " God bless you," while others 
would draw from their bosoms some cherished 
relic, and give as a token of remembrance. Oh 
how hard it was to part with those men, with 
whom we had watched so many weary days and 
nights — we felt that they had, truly, "become 
endeared to us through suffering." 

There was one patient, however, we did not put 
into an ambulance, and who was a great source 
of anxiety to us. He lay there upon a stretcher 
close by, waiting to be carried to a house not far 
distant. He was young, not seventeen, with clear 
blue eyes, curly auburn hair, and a broad, white 
brow ; his mother's pride, and an only son. Two 
weeks. previously he had been attacked with ty- 
phoid fever. The surgeon said, *' You may do 
all you can for him, but it is a hopeless case." 
Mrs. B. had devoted most of her time to him and 
I was often called to assist her. He was delirious 
and became quite unmanageable at times, and it 
required all the strength we possessed to keep 
him in bed ; but now the delirium of fever had 
passed away and he was helpless as an infant. 
We had written for his mother to come if possi- 
ble, and had just received a letter from her, sta- 



VISIT FROM HIS MOTHER. 31 

ting that she was on her way to Washington ; but 
would she come before we were obliged to leave ? 
Oh, we hoped so, and were anxiously looking 
for her. 

The ambulances started with their freight of 
emaciated, suffering men. Slowly that long train 
wound its way toward the city looking like a great 
funeral procession, and sadly we turned to our 
remaining patient, who was deeply affected at the 
removal of his comrades. He was then carried 
to the house above mentioned and a nurse left to 
take care of him, while we were obliged to pre- 
pare for our own comfort on the long weary march 
which was so near at hand. We had just com- 
menced to pack our saddle-bags, when we heard 
an unusual noise, as of some one crying piteously, 
and going out to learn the cause of the excite- 
ment, whom should we find but the mother of 
our handsome blue-eyed patient. She had called 
at the surgeon's tent to inquire for her son, and 
he had told her that all the sick had been sent to 
Washington, he having forgotten for the moment, 
the exception with regard to her son. The first 
words I heard were spoken in the most touching 
manner — " Oh, why did you send away my boy ? 
I wrote you I was coming ; Oh, why did you send 
him away !" 

I shall never forget the expression of that 
mother's face as she stood there wringing her 
hands and repeating the question. We very soon 



32 MARCH TOWARD MANASSAS. 

rectified the mistake which the surgeon had made, 
and in a few moments she was kneeling by the 
bedside of her darling boy, and we returned re- 
joicing that it had been our privilege to " deliver, 
him to his mother." Oh, how many, who come 
to Washington in search of loved ones, are caused 
unnecessary pain, yes, weeks of torturing sus- 
pense and fruitless search, in consequence of some 
little mistake on the part of a surgeon, a nurse, 
or some person who is supposed to know just 
where the sought for are to be found. 

The 17th of July dawned bright and clear, and 
everything being in readiness, the Army of the 
Potomac took up its line of march for Manassas. 
In gay spirits the army moved forward, the air 
resounding with the music^ of the regimental 
bands, and patriotic songs of the soldiers. No 
gloomy forebodings seemed to damp the spirits 
of the men, for a moment, but " On to Rich- 
mond," was echoed and re-echoed, as that vast 
army moved rapidly over the country. I felt 
strangely out of harmony with the wild, joyous 
spirit which pervaded the troops. As I rode 
slowly along, watching those long lines of bayo- 
nets as they gleamed and flashed in the sunlight, 
I thought that many, very many, of those enthu- 
siastic men who appeared so eager to meet the 
enemy, would never return to relate the success 
or defeat of that splendid army. Even if victory 
should perch upon their banners, and I had no 



CAMP AT FAIRFAX. 33 

doubt it would, yet many noble lives must be sa,c- 
rifieed ere it could be obtained. 

The main column reached Fairfax toward eve- 
ning and encamped for the night. Col. R.'s wife 

of the Second , Mrs. B. and myself were, I 

think, the only three females who reached Fair- 
fax that night. The day had been extremely 
hot, and not being accustomed to ride all day 
beneath a burnino- sun, we felt its effects verv 
sensibly, and consequently, hailed with joy the 
order to encamp for the night. Notwithstanding 
the heat and fatigue of the day's march, the troops 
were in high spirits, and immediately began pre. 
paring supper. Some built fires while others 
went in search of, and appropriated, every availa- 
ble article which might in any way add to the 
comfort of hungry and fatigued mem 

The whole neighborhood was ransacked for 
milk, butter, eggs, poultry, etc. which were found 
insufficient in quantity to supply the wants of such 
a multitude. There might have been heard some 
stray shots fired in the direction of a field where 
a drove of cattle were quietly grazing ; and soon 
after the odor of fresh steak was issuing from 
every part of the camp. I wish to state, howev- 
er, that all '' raids " made upon hen-coops, etc. 
were contrary to the orders of the General in 
command, for during the day I had seen men put 
under arrest for shooting chickens by the roadside. 

I was amused to hear the answer of a hopeful 



34 COLLECTING SUPPLIES. 

young darkey cook, when interrogated with re- 
gard to the broiled chickens and beef steak which 
he brought on for supper. Col. R. demanded, in 
a very stern voice, '' Jack, where did you get 
that beef steak and those chickens?" ''Massa, 
Tse carried dem cl'ar from Washington ; thought 
I'd cook 'em Tore dey sp'il'd " ; and then added, 
with a broad grin, '^ I aint no thief, I aint." Col. 
R. replied: ''That Avill do, Jack, you can go 
now." Then the Colonel told us how he had seen 
Jack running out of a house, as he rode along, 
und a woman ran out calling after him with all 
her might, but Jack never looked behind him, but 
escaped as fast as he could, and was soon out of 
sight. Said he, "I thought the young rascal had 
been up to some mischief, so I rode up and asked 
the woman what was the matter, and found he had 
stolen all her chickens ; I asked her how much 
they were worth ; she " reckoned " about two dol- 
lars. I think she made a pretty good hit, for 
after I paid her, she told me she had had only two 
chickens." Supper being over, pickets posted, and 
camp guards detailed, all became quiet for the 
night. 

Early the next morning the reveille beat, the 
whole camp was soon in motion, and after a slight 
breakfast from our haversacks the march was re- 
sumed. The day was very hot, and we found 
great difficulty in obtaining water, the want of 
which caused the troops much suffering. Many 



FATIGUES OF THE MARCH. 35 

of the men were sun-struck, and others began to 
drop out of the ranks from exhaustion. All such 
as were not able to march were put into ambulan- 
ces and sent back to Washington. Toward noon, 
the tedium of the march began to be enlivened 
by sharp volleys of musketry, in the direction of 
the advance guard ; but those alarms were only 
occasioned by our skirmishers, pouring a volley 
into everything which looked as if it might con- 
tain a masked battery, or a band of the enemy's 
sharpshooters. 

Considerable excitement prevailed throughout 
the day, as we were every hour in expectation of 
meeting the enemy. Carefully feeling its way, 
however, the army moved steadily on, investiga- 
ting every field, building, and ravine, for miles in 
front and to the right and left, until it reached 
Centerville, where we halted for the night. 

The troops now began to feel the effects of the 
march, and there was evidently a lack of that 
pic-nic hilarity which had characterized them the 
day before. Several regiments had been supplied 
with new shoes the day before leaving camp, and 
they found by sad experience, that they were not 
the most comfortable thins^s to march in, as their 
poor blistered feet testified ; in many cases their 
feet were literally raw, the thick woolen stockings 
having chafed the skin off. Mrs. B. and I, hav- 
ing provided ourselves before leaving camp, with 
a quantity of linen, bandages, lint, ointment, etc. 



36 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 

found it very convenient now, even before a shot 
had been fired by the enemy. 

Our surgeons began to prepare for the coming 
battle, by appropriating several buihiings and fit- 
ting them up for the wounded — among others the 
stone church at Centerville — a church which many 
a soldier will remember, as long as memory lasts. 
Late that evening as I was returning from this 
chnrch,, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. B., I pro- 
posed that we should walk through the entire 
camp to see how the boys were employed, on 
this^ the eve of their first battle. We found many 
engaged in writing by the glimmering light of 
tlie camp-fire — soldiers always carry writing ma- 
/jrials on a march ; some were reading their bibles, 
perhaps with more than usual interest ; while oth- 
ers sat in groups, conversing in low earnest tones ; 
but the great mass were stretched upon the 
ground, wrapped in their blankets, fast asleep, 
and all unconscious of the dangers of the morrow. 

We were about to return to our quarters in a 
log cabin built by the rebel soldiers, and which 
had been evacuated only a few days previous, 
when we heard several voices sino^ino: in a little 
grove not far from camp. We turned and walked 
toward the grove, until we could hear distinctly, 
the words of the following beautiful hymn : 

""Q, for a faith that will not shrink, 
Thouo-h press'd by every foe, 
That will not tremble on the brink 
Of any earthly woo ; 



A CAMP PRAYER MEETING. 37 

That will not murmur or complain 

Beneath the cliastening rod, 
But, in the hour ot grief and pain, 

Will lean upon its God; 

A faith that shines more bright and clear 

When tempests rage without ; 
That, when in danger, knows no fear, 

In darkness knows no doubt." 

*'Ah!" exclaimed Mr. B., ''I recognize Willie 
L.'s voice there. I understand now ; this is Wil- 
lie's prayer meeting night, and notwithstanding 
the fatigue of the march and blistered feet, he has 
not forgotten it." We drew nearer to listen to 
and enjoy the exercises unperceived, for no sooner 
had the last words of the hymn died away on the 
still midnight air, than Willie's clear voice rose in 
prayer, filling the grove with its rich, pathetic 
tones. He prayed for victory on the morrow, for 
his comrades, for loved ones at home, and his 
voice grew tremulous with emotion, as he plead 
with the Saviour to comfort and support his wid^ 
owed mother, if he should fall in battle. 

Then followed a practical talk about being faith 
ful soldiers of Jesus, as well as of their beloved 
country ; of the necessity of being prepared at 
any moment, to lay down the cross and take up 
the crown. One after another prayed and spoke, 
until about a dozen — and that included the whole 
number present — had addressed the Throne of 
Grace, and testified to the power of the Gospel 
of Christ in the salvation of sinners. No one 



38 DIVISIONS DETAILED. 

was called upon to pray or speak, no one said he 
had nothing to say and then talked long enough 
to prove it, no one excused his inability to interest 
his brethren, and no time was lost by delay, but 
every one did his duty, and did it proraptly. We 
retired feeling refreshed and encouraged. 

After ascertaining the position of the enemy, 
Gen. McDowell ordered forward three divisions, 
commanded by Ileintzelman, Hunter and Tyler, 
}^Iiles beinix left in reserve at Centerville. Sun- 
day morning before dawn, those three divisions 
moved forward, presenting a magnificent specta- 
cle, as column after column wound its way over 
the green hills and through the hazy valleys, with 
the soft moonlight falling on the long lines of 
shining steel. Not a drum or bugle was heard 
during the march, and the deep silence was only 
broken by the rumbling of artillery, the muffled 
tread of infantry, or the low hum of thousands 
of subdued voices. 

The divisions separated wdiere three roads 
branch off toward Bull Run, each taking the road 
leading to its respective position. Soon the morn- 
ing broke bright and clear, bringing the two con- 
tending armies in plain sight of each other. The 
enemy was posted on heights that rose in regular 
slopes from the shore crowned here and there by 
earthworks. The woods that interfered with his 
cannon ranges had all been cut away, and his guns 
liad a clean sweep of every approach. On our 



MY PLACE ON THE FIELD. 39 

side the descent was more gradual, and covered 
with a dense forest. The roar of artillery soon 
announced that the battle had actually commenced. 

Mrs. B. and myself took our position on the 
field, according to orders, in connection Avith Gen. 
Heintzelman's division, having delivered our hor* 
ses to Jack for safe keeping, vv ith strict orders to 
remain where he was, for we might require them 
at any moment. I imagine now, I see Mrs. B., as 
she stood there, looking as brave as possible, with 
her narrow brimmed leghorn hat, black cloth rid- 
ing habit, shortened to walking length by the use 
of a page, a silver-mounted seven-shooter in her 
belt, a canteen of water swung over one shoulder 
and a flask of brandy over the other, and a haver- 
sack with provision, lint, bandages, adhesive 
plaster, etc. hanging by her side. She was tall 
and slender, with dark brown hair, pale face, and 
blue eyes. 

Chaplain B. sat upon his horse looking as 
solenin as if standing face to face with the angel 
of death. The first man I saw killed was a gun- 
ner belonging to Col. R.'s command. A shell had 
burst in the midst of the battery, killing one and 
wounding three men and two horses. Mr. B. 
jumped from his horse, hitched it to a tree, and 
ran forward to the battery ; Mrs. B. and I follow- 
ing his example as fast as we could. I stooped 
over one of the wounded, who lay upon his face 
weltering in his blood ; I raised his head, and who 



40 CLOSE QUARTERS. 

should it be but Willie L. He was mortally 
wounded in the breast, and the tide of life was 
fast ebbing away ; the stretchers were soon 
brought, and he was carried from the field. 

Seeing the disaster from a distance, Col. R. 
rode up to the battery, and as he was engaged 
in giving orders, a solid shot came whizzing by 
in such close proximity to his head, that it stunned 
him for a moment ; but soon recovering, he turn- 
ed up the side of his head and shrugged his 
shoulders, a peculiarity of his, and in his usual 
nasal twang, said, ''rather close quarters," and 
rode away, apparently as unconcerned as if it had 
been a humming bird which crossed his path. 
But not content v, ith admonishing the Colonel, the 
same shot struck my poor little flask of brandy 
which lay near me on a drum-head, shattering it 
as spitefully as if sent by the combined force of 
the Order of ''Good Templars." 

Now the battle began to rage with terrible fury. 
Nothing could be heard save the thunder of ar- 
tillery, the clash of steel, and the continuous roar 
of musketry. Oh, what a scene for the bright sun 
of a holy Sabbath morning to shine upon ! In- 
stead of the sweet influences which we associate 
with the Sabbath — the chiming of church bells 
calling us to the house of prayer, the Sabbath 
school, and all the solemn duties of the sanctuary, 
there was confusion, destruction and death. There 
was no place of safety for miles around; the 



FATE OF SKULKERS. 41 

safest place was the post of duty. Many that day 

who turned their backs upon the enemy and 

soaofht refuse in the woods some two miles dis- 
ci o 

tant, were found torn to pieces by shell, or man- 
gled by cannon ball — a proper reward for those 
who, insensible to shame, duty, or patriotism, de- 
sert their cause and comrades in the trying hour 
of battle, and skulk away cringing under the fear 
of death. 



CHAPTER III. 

WATER FOR THK WOUNDED COL. CAMERON KILtED- -SCENfi.^ ON 

THE BATTLE-FIELD BURNSIDe's BRIGADE CAPTURE OF GRIF- 

FIn's and RICKETt's batteries REBELS REINFORCED THE 

PANIC AND REIREAT — THE WOUNDED AT CENTERVILLE MY 

RECONNOISSANCE AN INSANE WOMAN ON THE FIELD HIDING 

FROM THE ENEMY RETURN TO THE WOUNDED EXPECTATION 

OF CAPTURE ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS MY WALK TO ALEX- 
ANDRIA FOOTSORE AND WEARY ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON — • 

LETTERS FROM DEAD SOLDIERs' FRIENDS. 

I WAS hurried off to Centerville, a distance of 
seven miles, for a fresh supply of brandy, 
lint, etc. When I returned, the field was literally 
strewn with wounded, dead and dying. Mrs. B. 
was nowhere to be found. Had she been killed 
or wounded ? A few moments of torturing sus- 
pense and then I saw her coming toward me, run- 
ning her horse with all possible speed, with about 
fifty canteens hanging from the pommel of her 



42 WATER FOR THE WOUNDED. 

saddle. To all ray inquiries there was but one 
answer : '• Don't stay to care for the wounded 
now ; the troops are famishing with thirst and are 
beginning to fall back." Mr. B. then rode up 
with the same order, and we three started for a 
spring a mile distant, having gathered up the 
empty canteens which lay strewn on the field. 
This was the nearest spring ; the enemy knew it, 
and consequently had posted sharpshooters with- 
in rifle range to prevent the troops being supplied 
with water. Notwithstanding this, we filled our 
canteens, while the Minnie balls fell thick and fast 
around us, and returned in safety to distribute the 
fruits of our labor among the exhausted men. 

We spent three hours in this manner, while the 
tide of battle rolled on more fiercely than before, 
until the enemy made a desperate charge on our 
troops driving them back and taking full posses- 
sion of the spring. Chaplain B.'s horse was shot 
through the neck and bled to death in a few mo- 
ments. Then Mrs. B. and I dismounted and w^ent 
to work again among the wounded. 

Not long afterwards Col. Cameron, brother of 
the Secretary of War, came dashing «nlong the 
line, shouting, '' Come on boys, the rebels are in 
full retreat." The words had scarcely been utter- 
ed Avhen he fell, pierced to the heart by a bullet. 
Surgeon P. was on the ground in an instant, but 
nothing could be done for him ; his wound was 
mortal, and he soon ceased to breathe. There 



SCENES ON THE FIELD 43 

was no time to carry off the dead ; we folded his 
arms across his breast, closed his eyes, and left 
him in the cold embrace of death. 

Still the battle continues without cessation ; the 
grape and canister fill the air as they go screaming 
on their fearful errand ; the sight of that field is 
perfectly appalling ; men tossing their arms wild- 
ly calling for help ; there they lie bleeding, torn 
and mangled ; legs, arms and bodies are crushed 
and broken as if smitten by thunder-bolts ; the 
ground is crimson with blood ; it is terrible to 
witness. Burnside's brigade is being mown down 
like grass by the rebel batteries ; the men are not 
able to stand that terrible storm of shot and shell ; 
they begin to waver and fall back slowly, but just 
at the right moment Capt. Sykes comes up to their 
relief with his command of regulars. They sweep 
up the hill where Burnside's exhausted, shattered 
brigade still lingers, and are greeted with a shout 
of joy, such as none but soldiers, who are almost 
overpowered by a fierce enemy, and are reinforced 
by their brave comrades, can give. 

Onward they go, close up to the cloud of flame 
and smoke rolling from the hill upon which the 
rebel batteries are placed — their muskets are lev- 
eled — there is a click, click — a sheet of flame — a 
deep roll like that of thunder, and the rebel gun- 
ners are seen to stagger and fall. The guns be- 
come silent, and in a few moments are abandoned. 
This seems to occasion great confusion in the rebel 



44 CAPTURE OF BATTERIES. 

ranks. Kegiments were scattered, and officers 
were seen riding furiously and shouting their or- 
ders, which were heard above the roar and din of 
battle. 

Captain Griffin's and Rickett's batteries are or- 
dered forward to an eminence from which the 
rebels have been driven. They come into posi- 
tion and open a most destructive fire which com- 
pletely routs the enemy. The battle seems almost 
won and the enemy is retreating in confusion. 
Hear Avhat rebel Gen. Johnson says of his pros- 
pects at that time, in his official report : '' The 
long contest against a powerful enemy, and heavy 
losses, especially of field officers, had greatly dis- 
couraged the troops of Gen. Bee and Col. Evans. 
The aspect of affairs was critical." Another 
writes : '' Fighting for hours under a burning sun, 
without a drop of water, the conduct of our men 
could not be excelled ; but human endurance has 
its bounds, and all seemed about to be lost." This 
goes to prove that it was a desperately hard fought 
battle on both sides, and if no fresh troops had 
been brought into the field, the victory would as- 
suredly have been ours. 

But just as our army is confident of success, 
and is following up the advantage which it has 
gained, rebel reinforcements arrive and turn the 
tide of battle. Two rebel regiments of fresh 
troops are sent to make a flank movement in order 
to capture Griffin's and Rickett's batteries. They 



PANIC AND RETREAT. 45 

march througli the woods, reach the top of the 
hill, and form a Ime so completely in our rear as 
to fire almost upon the backs of the gunners. 
Griffin sees them approach, but supposes them to 
be his supports sent by Major Barry. However 
looking more intently at them, he thinks they are 
rebels, and turns his guns upon them. Just as he 
is about to give the order to fire. Major B. rides 
up shouting, " They are your supports, don't fire." 
''No, sir, they are rebels," replied Capt. Griffin. 
" I tell you, sir, they are your supports," said Major 
B. In obedience to orders the guns were turned 
again, and while in the act of doing so, the sup- 
posed supports fired a volley upon the gunners. 
Men and horses went down in an instant. A mo- 
ment more and those famous batteries were in the 
hands of the enemy. 

The news of this disaster spread along our lines 
like wildfire ; officers and men were alike con- 
founded ; regiment after regiment broke and ran, 
and almost immediately the panic commenced. 
Companies of cavalry were drawn up in line across 
the road, with drawn sabers, but all was not suffi- 
cient to stop the refluent tide of iugitives. Then 
came the artillery thundering along, drivers lash- 
ing their horses furiously, which greatly added to 
the terror of the panic stricken thousands crowd- 
ed together en masse. In this manner we reached 
Centerville where order was in some measure re- 
stored. 



46 WOUNDED AT CENTERVILLE. 

Mrs. B. and I made our way to the stone cliarch 
around which we saw stacks of dead bodies piled 
up, and arms and legs were thrown together in 
heaps. But how shall I describe the scene within 
the church at that hour. Oh, there was suffering 
there which no pen can ever describe. One case 
I can never forget. It was that of a poor fellow 
Avhose legs were both broken above the knees, and 
from the knees to the thighs they were literally 
smashed to fragments. He was dying ; but oh, 
what a death was that. He was insane, perfectly 
wild, and required two persons to hold him. In- 
flammation had set in, and was rapidly doing its 
work ; death soon released him, and it was a re- 
lief to all present as well as to the poor sufferer. 

I went to another dying mie who was bearing 
patiently all his sufferings. Oh, poor pale face ! 
I see it now, with its white lips and beseeching 
eyes; and then the touching inquiry, ''Do you 
think I'll die before morning ?" I told him I 
thought he w^ould, and asked : " Has death any 
terrors for you ?" He smiled that beautiful trust- 
ing smile which we sometimes see on the lips of 
the dying saint, as he replied : '' Oh no, I shall 
soon be asleep in Jesus" ; and then in a low plain- 
tive voice he repeated the verse commencing. 

Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep. 

While I stood beside him thus, some one tapped 
me on the shoulder. On turning round I was 
beckoned to the side of one who was laid in a 



DEATH OF WILLIE L. 47 

corner, on the floor, with his face toward the walL 
I knelt beside him and asked : " What can I do 
for you, my friend ?" He opened his eyes, with 
an effort, and said, "I wish you to take that," 
pointing to a small package which lay beside him, 
''keep it until you get to Washington, and then, 
if it is not too much trouble, 1 want you to write 
to mother and tell her how I was wounded, and 
that I died trusting in Jesus." Then I knew that 
I was kneeling beside Willie L. He was almost 
gone — just ready '' to lay down the cross and 
take up the crown." He signed to me to come 
nearer ; and as I did so, he put his hand to his 
head and tried to separate a lock of hair with his 
fingers, but his strength failed ; however, I under- 
stood that he wished me to cut off a lock to send 
to his mother with the package. When he saw 
that I understood him he seemed pleased that his 
last request was complied with. 

Chaplain B. came and prayed wnth him, and 
while he was praying, the happy spirit of Willie 
returned to Him who gave it. Heaven gained in 
this instance another soul, but there was mourn- 
ing in that widowed mother s heart. I thought, 
oh, how appropriate were the words of the poet 
to that lonely mother : 

Not on the tented field, 

terror-fronted War 1 
Not on the battle-field, 

Ail thy bleeding victims are; 



48 MY RECONNOISSANCE. 

But in the lowly homes 

Where sorrow broods like death, 
And fast the mother's sobs 

Rise with each quick-drawn breath. 

That dimmed eye, fainting close — 

And she may not be nigh I 
'Tis mothers die — God! 

'Tis but we motliers die. 

Our hearts and hands bein^^ fully occupiod with 
such scenes as these, we thought of nothing else. 
We knew nothing of the true state of affairs out- 
side, nor could we believe it possible when we 
learned that the whole army had retreated toward 
Washington, leaving the wounded in the hands of 
the enemy, and us, too, in rather an unpleasant sit- 
uation. I could not believe the stern truth, and 
was determined to find out for myself Conse- 
quently I went back to the heights, where I had 
seen the troops stack their guns and throw them- 
selves upon the ground at night-fall, but no troops 
were there. I- thought then that they had merely 
changed their position, and that by going over 
the field I should certainly find them. I had not 
gone far before I saw a camp fire in the distance. 
Supposing that I had found a clue to the secret, I 
made all haste toward the fire ; but as I drew near 
I saw but one solitary figure sitting by it, and that 
was the form of a female. 

Upon going up to her I recognised her as one 
of the washerwomen of our army. I asked her 
ft^hat she was doing there and where the army 



AN INSANE WOMAN. 49 

had gone. Said she : " I don't know anything 
about the army ; I am cooking my husband's sup- 
per, and am expecting him home every minute; 
see what a lot of things I have got for him," 
pointing to a huge pile of blankets, haversacks 
and canteens w^hich she had gathered up, and over 
which she had constituted herself sentinel. I 
soon found out that the poor creature had becom.e 
insane. The excitement of battle had proved too 
much for her, and all my endeavors to persuade 
her to come with me were unavailing. I had 
no time to spare, for 1 was convinced that the 
army had really decamped. 

Once more I started in the direction of Center- 
ville. I had not gone more than a few rods be- 
fore I heard the clatter of horses' hoofs. I stop- 
ped, and looking in the direction of the fire I had 
just quitted, I saw a squad of cavalry ride up to 
the woman who still sat there. Fortunately I had 
no horse to make a noise or attract attention, hav- 
ing left mine at the hospital with the intention of 
returning immediately. It was evident to my 
mind that those were the enemy's cavalry, and 
that it was necessary for me to keep out of sight 
if possible until they were gone. Then the 
thought came to me that the woman at the fire 
knew no better than to tell them that I had been 
there a few minutes before. Happily, however, 1 
was near a fence, against which there were great 
|)iles of brush, and as the night was becoming very 



50 HIDING FROM THE ENEMY. 

dark and it was beginning to rain, I tlionglit I 
could remain undetected, at least until morning. 
My suspicions proved to be correct. They were 
coming toward me, and compelling the woman to 
come and show them the direction I had taken ; I 
decided to crawl under one of those brush heaps, 
which I did, and had scarcely done so, when up 
they came and stopped over against the identical 
pile in which I was concealed. 

One of the men said " See here old woman, are 
you sure that she can tell us if we find her ?" 
''Oh, yes, she can tell you, I know she can," was 
the woman's reply. They would go away a little 
distance and then come back again ; by and by 
they began to accuse the woman of playing a false 
game ; then they swore, threatened to shoot her, 
and she began to cry. All this was an interesting 
performance I admit ; but I did not enjoy it quite 
so much, in consequence of being rather uncom- 
fortably near the performers. At last they gave 
it up as a hopeless case and rode away taking the 
woman with them, and I was left in blissful igno- 
rance of the mystery which they wished me to 
unravel, and for once in my life I rejoiced at not 
having my " curiosity " gratified. 

I remained there until the last echo of their re- 
treating footsteps had died away in the distance; 
then I came forth very cautiously and made my 
way to Centerville, where the interesting intelli- 
t^ence awaited me that Mr. and Mrs. B. had gone, 



EXPECTATION OF CAPTURE. 51 

and had taken my horse, supposing that I had 
been taken prisoner. 

The village of Centerville was not yet occupied 
by the rebels, so that I might have made my es- 
cape without any further trouble ; but how could 
I go and leave those hospitals full of dying men, 
without a soul to give them a drink of water ? I 
must go into that Stone Church once more, even 
at the risk of being taken prisoner. I did so — and 
the cry of "Water," "water," was heard above 
the groans of the dying. Chaplain B. had told 
them before leaving that they would soon be in 
the hands of the enemy — that the army had re- 
treated to Washington, and that there was no pos- 
sibility of removing the wounded. There they 
lay, calmly awaiting the approach of their cruel 
captors, and apparently prepared to accept with 
resignation any fate which their cruelty might sug- 
gest. Oh, how brave those men were! What 
moral courage they possessed ! Nothing but the 
grace of God and a right appreciation of the great 
cause in which they had nobly fought, and bled, 
CO aid reconcile them to such suffering and humilia- 
tion. 

They all urged me to leave them, and not sub- 
ject myself to the barbarous treatment which I 
would be likely to receive if I should be taken 
prisoner, adding — "If you do stay the rebels will 
not let you do anything for us." One of the men 
said : " Dr. E. has only been ;ione a little while--' 



52 ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS. 

he extracted three balls from my leg and arm, and 
that, too, with his pen-knife. I saw twenty-one 
balls which he had taken from the limbs of men in 
this hospital. He was determined to remain with 
lis, but we would not consent, for we knew he 
would not be allowed to do any more for us after 
the rebels came ; and you must go too, and go 
very soon or they will be here." 

After placing water within the reach of as many 
as could use their arms, and giving some to those 
who could not — I turned to leave them, with feel- 
ings that I cannot describe ; but ere I reached the 
door a feeble voice called me back — it was that of 
a young officer from Massachusetts; he held in his 
hand a gold locket, and as he handed it to me he 
said — ''Will you please to open it?" I did so, 
and then held it for him to take a last look at the 
picture which it contained. He grasped it eagerly 
and pressed it to his lips again and again. The 
picture was that of a lady of rare beauty, with an 
infant in her arms. She seemed scarcely more 
than a child herself; on the opposite side wns 
printed her name and address. While he still 
gazed upon it with quivering lip, and I stood 
there waiting for some tender message for the 
loved ones, the unmistakable tramp of cavalry was 
heard in the street — a moment more, and I had 
snatched the locket from the hands of the dying 
*Titnn and was gone. 

The streets Avere full of cavalr^^ but not near 



ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON. 53 

enough to discover me, as the niocht was exceed- 
ingly dark and the rain came down in torrents. 
One glance was sufficient to convince me that I 
could not escape by either street. The only way 
was to climb a fence and go across lots, which I 
immediately did, and came out on the Fairfax road 
about a mile from the village, and then started for 
Washington on the "double quick." I did not 
reach Alexandria until noon the next da}^ — almost 
exhausted, and my shoes literally worn off my feet. 
Having walked all the way from Centerville in the 
rain, without food, together with want of sleep 
and the fatigue of the past week, caused me to 
present rather an interesting appearance. I re- 
mained there two days before I could persuade 
my limbs to bear the weight of my body. I then 
made my way to Washington, where I found my 
friends quite anxious lest I had fallen into tho 
hands of the enemy. A number of men from 
whom I had received packages, money, etc., befon; 
going into battle, and who reached Washington 
two days before I did, had come to the conclusion 
that they had taken a pretty sure way of sending 
those precious things to Richmond, and therefore 
my arrival was rather an important event, and T 
was greeted with a hearty welcome. 

My first duty was to attend to those dying sol 
diers' requests, which I did immediately by writing 
to their friends and inclosing the articles which 1 
had received from the hands of those loved ones 



54 GRATEFUL RETURNS, 

who were now cold in death. The answers to 
many of those letters lie before me while I write, 
and are full of gratitude and kind wishes. One 
in particular I cannot read without weeping. It is 
from Willie's Mother. The following are a few 
extracts: ''Oh, can it be that my Willie will re- 
turn to me no more ? Shall I never see my dar- 
ling boy again, until I see him clothed in the 
righteousness of Christ — thank God I shall see 
him then — I shall see him then." 

Now witli all the motlier's heart 
Torn and quivering with the smart, 
I yield him, 'neath the chastening rod, 
To my country and my God. 

" Oh, how I want to kiss those hands that closed 
my darling's eyes, and those lips which spoke 
v\^ords of comfort to him in a dying hour. The 
love and prayers of a bereaved mother will follow 
you all through the journey of life." Yes, he is 
gone to return to her no more on earth, but her 
loss is his eternal gain. 

Servant of God well done ! 

Rest from thy loved employ ; 
The battle fought, the victory won, 

Enter thy Master's joy. 

He at least had won a victory— notwithstanding 
the defeat of the federal army. Yes, a glorious 
victory. 



CHAPTER lY. 

WASHINGTON^ AFTER BULL RUN- DEMORALIZATION OF THE ARMt 

SICK SOLDIERS HOSPITAL SCENES EXTRACTS FROM MY 

JOURNAL SYMPATHY OF SOLDIERS FISHING FOR THE SICK 

A FISH-LOVING DUTCHMAN REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY 

A VISIT TO THE PICKETS PICKET DUTIES AND DANGERS — ' 

THE ARMY INACTIVE MC CLELLAn's ADDRESS MARCHING OR' 

DERS AGAIN EMBARKATION OF THE ARMY FOR FORTRESS 

MONROE THE CROWDED TRANSPORTS DESCRIPTION OF THE 

MONITOR — HER BUILD AND ARMAMENT HER TURRET AND 

ENGINES. 

WASHINGTON at that time presented a pic- 
ture strikingly illustrative of military life in 
its most depressing form. To use the words of 
Captain Noyes — '' There were stragglers sneaking 
along through the mud inquiring for their regi- 
ments, wanderers driven in by the pickets, some 
with guns and some without, while every one you 
met had a sleepy, downcast appearance, and looked 
as if he would like to hide his head from all the 
world." Every bar-room and groggery seemed 
filled to overflowing with officers and men, and 
military discipline was nearly, or quite, forgotten 
for a time in the army of the Potomac. While 
Washington was in this chaotic condition, the rebel 
flag was floating over Munson's Hill, in plain sight 
of the Federal Capital. 



56 SICK SOLDIERS. 

When General McClellan took command of the 
army of the Potomac, he found it in a most la- 
mentable condition, and the task of reorganizing 
and disciplining such a mass of demoralized men 
was a Herculean one. However, he proved him- 
self equal to the task, and I think, that even his 
enemies are wilUng to admit, that there is no 
parallel case in history where there has been more 
tact, energy and skill displayed in transforming a 
disorganized mob into an efficient and effective 
army ; in fact, of bringing order out of confusion. 

The hospitals in Washington, Alexandria and 
Georgetown were crowded with Avounded, sick, 
discouraged soldiers. That extraordinary march 
from Bull Ptun, through rain, mud, and chagrin, 
did more toward filling the hospitals than did the 
battle itself I found Mrs. B. in a hospital, suffer- 
ing from typhoid fever, while Chaplain B. was 
looking after the temporal and spiritual wants of 
the men with his usual energy and sympathy. He 
had many apologies to offer ''for running aw^ay 
with my horse," as he termed it. There were 
many familiar faces missing, and it required con- 
siderable time to ascertain the fate of my frienda 
Many a weary walk I had from one hospital to an- 
other to find some missing one who was reported 
to have been sent to such and such a hospital ; but 
after reading the register from top to bottom I 
would find no such name there. Perhaps on my 
way out, in passing the open door of one of the 



EXTRACTS FROM MY JOURNAL. 57 

wards, who should I see, laid upon a cot, but the 
very object of my search, and upon returning to 
the office to inform the steward of the fact, I would 
find that "it was a slight mistake; in registering 
the name ; instead of being Josiah Phelps, it was 
Joseph Philips ; only a slight mistake, but such 
mistakes cause a great deal of trouble sometimes. 
Measels, dysentery and typhoid fever were the 
prevailing diseases after the retreat. After spend- 
ing several days in visiting the different hospitals, 
looking after personal friends, and writing letters 
for the soldiers who were not able to write for 
themselves, I was regularly installed in one of the 
general hospitals. I will here insert an extract 
from my journal : "Aug. 3d, 1861. Georgetown, 
D. C. Have been on duty all day. John C. is 
perfectly wild with delirium, and keeps shouting 
at the top of his voice some military command, or, 
when vivid recollections of the battlefield come to 
his mind, he enacts a pantomime of the terrible 
strife — he goes through the whole manual of arms 
as correctly as if he were in the ranks ; and as he, 
In imagination, loads and fires in quick succession, 
the flashing of his dying eye and the nervous vigor 
of his trembling hands give fearful interest to the 
supposed encounter with the enemy. When we 
tell him the enemy has retreated, he persists in 
pursuing ; and throwing his arms wildly around 
him he shouts to his men — ' Come on and fight 
while there is a rebel left in Virginia !' My friend 



58 HOSPITAL SCENES. 

Lieut. M. is extremely weak and nervous, and the 
wild ravings of J. C. disturb him exceedingly. 1 
requested Surgeon P. to have him removed to a 
more quiet ward, and received in reply — ' This is 
the most quiet ward in the whole building.' There 
are five hundred patients here who require cour 
stant attention, and not half enough nurses to take 
care of them. 

"Oh, what an amount of suffering I am called 
to witness every hour and every moment. There 
is no cessation, and yet it is strange that the sight 
of all this suffering and death does not affect me 
more. I am simply eyes, ears, hands and feet. It 
does seem as if there is a sort of stoicism granted 
for such occasions. There are great, strong men 
dying all around me, and while I write there are 
three being carried past the window to the dead 
room. This is an excellent hospital — everything 
is kept in good order, and the medical officers are 
skillful, kind and attentive." 

The weary weeks went slowly by, while disease 
and death preyed upon the men, and the '' Sol- 
diers' Cemetery" was being quickly filled with new 
made graves. The kindness of the soldiers toward 
each other is proverbial, and is manifested in vari- 
ous ways. It is- a common thing to see soldiers 
stand guard night after night for sick comrades—- 
and when off duty try, to the utmost of their skill, 
to prepare their food in such a way as to tempt 
the appetite of those poor fellows whom the siir- 



SYMPATHY OF SOLDIERS. 59 

geons *' do not consider sufficiently ill to excuse 
from duty ;" but their comrades do, and do not 
hesitate to perform their duty and their own also. 
And when brought to camp hospital, helpless, 
worn down by disease, and fever preying upon 
their vitals — those brave and faithful comrades do 
not forsake them, but come several times every 
day to inquire how they are, and if there is any- 
thing they can do for them. And it is touching 
to see those men, with faces bronzed and stern, 
tenderly bending over the dying, while the tears 
course down their sunburnt cheeks. 

There is scarcely a soldier's grave where there 
is not to be seen some marks of this noble charac- 
teristic of the soldier — the tastefully cut sod, the 
planted evergreen, the carefully carved head- 
board, all tell of the affectionate remembrance of 
the loved comrade. You will scarcely find such 
strong and enduring friendship — such a spirit of 
self-sacrifice, and such noble and grateful hearts, 
as among the soldiers. I think this is one reason 
why the nurses do not feel the fatigue of hospital 
duty more than they do ; the gratitude of the men 
seems to act as a stimulant, and the patient, un- 
complaining faces of those suffering men almost 
invariably greet you with a smile.. I used to think 
that it was a disgrace for any one, under ordinary 
circumstances, to be heard complaining, when 
those mutilated, pain-racked ones bore everything 
with such heroic fortitude. 



60 FISHING FOR THE SICK. 

I was not in the habit of going among the pa- 
tients with a long, dolefal face, nor intimating by 
word or look that their case was a hopeless one, 
unless a man was actually dying, and I felt it to be 
my duty to tell him so. Cheerfulness was my 
motto, and a wonderful effect it had sometimes on 
the despondent, gloomy feelings of discouraged 
and homesick sufferers. I noticed that whenever 
1 failed to arouse a man from such a state of feel- 
ing, it generally proved a hopeless case. They 
were very likely not to recover if they made up 
their minds that they must die, and persisted in 
believing that there was no alternative. 

There were a great many pleasant things in 
connection with our camp hospital duties. I really 
enjoyed gratifying some of the whims and strange 
fancies of our poor convalescent boys, with whom 
I had become quite a ftivorite. As I would pass 
along through the hospital in the morning, I would 
generally have plenty of assistants in helping to 
make out my programme for the day. For one I 
had to write letters, read some particular book to 
another, and for a third I must catch some fish. I 
remember on one occasion of an old Dutchman, a 
typhoid convalescent, declaring that he could eat 
nothing until he could get some fresh fish, and of 
course I must procure them for him. '' But,'' said 
I, "the doctor must be consulted ; perhaps he will 
not think it best for you to have any fish yet, until 
you are stronger." ''Yell, I dusn't care for te toctor 



REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY. Gl 

— he dusn't know vat mine appetite ish — te feesh 
I must have. Oh, mine Cot! I must have some 
feesh." And the old man wept like a child at the 
thought of being disappointed. " Hunter s Creek " 
was about a mile and a half from camp, where Mr. 
and Mrs. B. and I had spent many an hour fishing 
and shooting at the flocks of wild ducks which 
frequented it; so, after providing myself with 
hook, hue and bait, I made my way to the creek. 
Soon after I commenced operations I drew up a 
monstrous eel, which defied all my efforts to re- 
lease the hook from its jaws. At last I was obliged 
to draw it into camp by means of the line — and 1 
was amply repaid for my trouble on seeing the 
delight of the convalescents, and especially of my 
old Dutchman, who continued to slap his hands 
together and say — " Dhat ish coot — dhat ish coot." 
The eel was handed over to the cook to be pre- 
pared for dinner, and to the great satisfaction of the 
Dutchman he was permitted to enjoy a portion of it. 

The army under McClellan began to assume a 
warlike aspect — perfect order and military disci- 
pline were observed everywhere among the sol- 
diers. It was a splendid sight to see those well 
drilled troops on dress-parade — or being reviewed 
by their gallant young commander, upon whose 
shoulders the "stars" sat with so much grace and 
dignity. 

The monotony of camp life began to be broken 
up by armed reconnoissances and skirmishing be- 



62 A VISIT TO THE PICKETS. 

tween the pickets. Our lines were pushed for- 
ward to Lewinsville on the right, and to Munson's 
Hill in front. The pickets of both armies were 
posted in plain sight of each other, only separated 
by the beautiful corn-fields and peach-orchards. 
Picket firing was kept up all along the lines on 
both sides, notwithstanding that flags of truce had 
been sent in by both parties, several times, re- 
questing that this barbarous practice might cease. 
As soon as Mrs. B. was so far recovered as to 
be able to ride, we started one day, accompanied 
by Mr. B. and Dr. E., for Munson's Hill, to see the 
pickets on duty. We rode along until we came 
within a short distance of the rifle pits where our 
men were, when the rebels fired upon us. We 
turned and rode back until we came to a clump of 
trees, where we dismounted, hitched our horses, 
and proceeded the rest of the way on foot — part 
of the way having to crouch along on our hands 
and knees, in order to escape the bullets which were 
whistling above us. We reached the rifle pits in 
safety, which were close to a rail fence, the rails of 
which were perfectly riddled with Minnie balls. 
While we sat there looking through an opera- 
glass, whiz ! came a ball and struck the rail against 
which my head rested ; glancing, it passed through 
Dr. E.'s cap and lodged in the shoulder of one of 
the men. We remained there until the firing 
ceased, then returned to camp, carrying with us 
the wounded man. 



PICKET DUTIES AND DANGERS. 63 

Picket duty is one of the most perilous and try- 
ing duties connected with the service. A clergy- 
man-soldier writing upon this subject, briefly 
describes it : '' Picket duty at all times is arbitrary, 
but at night it is trebly so. No monarch on a 
throne, with absolute power, is more independent, 
or exercises greater sway for the time being, than 
a private soldier stationed on his beat with an 
enemy in front. Darkness veils all distinctions. 
He is not obliged to know his own officers or com- 
rades, or the commanding general, only through 
the means of the countersign. With musket loaded 
and capped he walks his rounds, having to do 
with matters only of life and death, and at the 
same time clothed with absolute power. It is a 
position of fearful importance and responsibility, 
one that makes a man feel solemn and terribly in 
earnest. Often, too, these posts are in thick 
woods, where the soldier stands alone, cut off from 
camp, cut off from his fellows, subject only to the 
harrassings of his own imagination and sense of 
danger. The shadows deepen into inky night ; 
all objects around him, even the little birds that 
w^ere his companions during the day, are gathered 
within the curtains of a hushed repose ; but the 
soldier, with every nerve and faculty of his mind 
strained to the utmost tension of keenness and 
sensibility, speaks only in whispers; his fingers 
tighten round the stock of his musket as he leans 
forward to catch the sound of approaching foot- 



- 



G4 mcclellan's address. 

steps, or, in absence of clanger, looks longingly up to 
the cold, grey sky, with its wealth of shining stars." 

Yes, the picket is exposed to danger constantly, 
and to various kinds of danger. He knows not 
what moment a lurking foe may spring upon him 
from the darkness, or a bullet from a scout or 
sharpshooter may reach him at any time. Then, 
too, he is exposed to the raging elements — heat 
and cold, rain and snow ; no matter whether in 
the depths of the forest, or in the open plain, or 
in the rifle-pit standing in water knee deep, the 
poor picket must not heed the storm, but keep 
both eyes and ears open to catch the slightest 
sound. After severe marches, when the men are 
greatly fatigued, and it seems almost impossible to 
perform any more duty without rest and sleep, 
some, of course, are sent on picket duty, while the 
rest are permitted to sleep. Oh, how my heart 
has ached for those men ; and it seemed to me 
that the persons and regiments in which I was 
most interested always had the most picket duty 
to perform. 

On the 14th of March General McClellan issued 
an address to the army of the Potomac, announcing 
the reasons why they had been so long unem- 
ployed. The battle of Bull Run was fought in 
July, 1861. It was now March, 1862, and during 
this interval the army of the Potomac, numbering 
some two hundred and fifty thousand men, had 
been inactive, excepting their daily drills behind 



MARCHING ORDERS AGAIN. 65 

their entrencliments. The flags of the enemy 
were in sight. Washington was in a state of siege, 
and not a transport could ascend the river without 
running tlie gauntlet of the rebel batteries. In 
his address General McClellAn announced the rea- 
sons for their inacti\ity as follows: 

'^ Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac: For a 
iOng time I have kept you inactive, but not with- 
out a purpose. You wei'c to be disciplined, armed 
and instructed. The formidable artillery you now 
have had to be created Other armies were to 
move and accomplish certain results. I have held 
you back that you might give the death-blow to 
the rebellion that has disti acted our once happy 
country. The patience } ou have shown, and your 
confidence in your General, are worth a dozen 
victories. These preliminary results are now ac- 
complished. I feel that the patient labors of many 
months have produced their fruit. The army of 
the Potomac is now a real army, magnificent in 
material, admirable in disciphne and instruction, 
excellently equipped and ainned. Your command- 
ers are all that I could wish. The moment for 
action has arrived, and I know that I can trust in 
you to save our country. The period of inaction 
has passed. I will bring you noAV face to face 
with the rebels, and only pray that God may de- 
fend the right." 

Marching orders were issued once more to the 
army of the Potomac. The sick were sent off, 

5 



Q6 EMBARKATION OF THE ARMY. 

camps broken up, and all stood prepared for an- 
other encounter with the enemy. The bitter re- 
membrance of the defeat at Bull E,un still rankled 
in the minds of the men, and now thej were 
anxious for an opportunity to retaliate upon the 
foe, and win back the laurels they had so inglo- 
riously lost upon that disastrous field. Yarious 
speculations were indulged in with regard to their 
destination. One prophesied that they were going 
to Richmond by way of Fredericksburg, another 
was positive that they were to go by the way of 
Manassas, and a third declared that it was down 
the Shenandoah valley to take Pdchmond on the 
flank and rear ; but, to the utter astonishment of 
all, they were ordered to Alexandria to embark 
for Fortress Monroe. Regiment after regiment 
was huddled together on board until every foot of 
room was occupied, and there remained but little 
prospect of comfort for either officers or men. 

As soon as each transport received its cargo of 
men, horses and provisions, it floated out into the 
stream, while another steamed up to the wharf in 
its place, until the whole fleet lay side by side, 
freighted with over a hundred thousand human 
lives, and awaiting the signal to weigh anchor. 
The troops were eager for a campaign ; they had 
lain inactive so long, while "victory" thundered 
all around them, that they were becoming impa- 
tient to strike another blow at rebellion, and blot 
out the remembrance of the past Roanoke, Pea 



' 



THE MONITOR^ 67 

Kidge, Newbern, Winchester and Donelson — were 
a succession of victories which had been achieved, 
and the army of the Potomac had not participated 
in them. The men felt this, and were prepared 
for anything but inactivity. Everything being in 
readiness, the signal Avas given, and the whole fleet 
Avas soon moving in the direction of Fortress Mon- 
roe, with the stars and stripes floating from every 
mast-head, and the music of national airs awaken- 
ing the slumbering echoes as we swiftly glided 
over the quiet waters of the Potomac. 

The first real object of interest which presented 
itself Avas the '' Monitor" lying off Fortress Mon- 
roe. It reminded me of Avhat I once heard a man 
say to his neighbor about his wife; said he, 
^' Neighbor, you might Avorship your wife Avithout 
breaking either of the ten commandments. '^ '' Hoav 
is that?" asked the man; "Because she is not the 
likeness of anything in heaA^en aboA^e, or in the 
earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth." 
So thought I of the Monitor. 

There she sat upon the water a glorious impreg- 
nable battery, the Avonder of the age, the terror 
of rebels, and the pride of the North. The Moni- 
tor is so novel in structure that a minute descrip- 
tion will be necessary to convey an accurate idea 
of her character. "She has two hulls. The lower 
one is of iron, five-eighths of an inch thick. The 
bottom is flat, and six feet six inches in depth — 
sharp at both ends, the cut-water retreating at an 



68 HER CONSTRUCTION. 

angle of about thirty degrees. The sides, instead 
of having the ordinary bulge, incline at an angle 
of about fifty-one degrees. This hull is one hun- 
dred and twenty-four feet long, and thirty-four feet 
broad at the top. Eesting on this is the upper 
hull, flat-bottomed, and both longer and wider 
than the lower hull, so that it projects over in 
every direction, like the guards of a steamboat. It 
is one hundred and seventy -four feet long, forty- 
one feet four inches wide, and live feet deep. 
These sides constitute the armor of the vessel. In 
the first place is an inner guard of iron, half an inch 
thick. To this is fastened a -wall of white oak, 
placed endways, and thirty inches thick, to which 
are bolted six plates of iron, each an inch thick, 
thus making a solid wall of thirty-six and a half 
inches of wood and iron. This hull is fastened 
upon the lower hull, so that the latter is entirely 
submerged, and the upper one sinks down three 
feet into the water. Thus but two feet of hull are 
exposed to a shot. The under hull is so guarded 
by the projecting upper hull, that a ball, to strike 
it, would have to pass through twenty-five feet of 
water. The upper hull is also pointed at both 
ends. The deck comes flush with the top of the 
hull, and is made bomb-proof No railing or bul- 
wark rises above the deck. The projecting ends 
serve as a protection to the propeller, rudder and 
anchor, which cannot be struck. Neither the an- 
chor or chain is ever exposed. The anchor is 



KER ARMAMENT. 69 

peculiar, being very sliort, but heavy. It is hoisted 
into a phice fitted for it, outside of the loAver hull, 
but within the impenetrable shield of the upper 
one. On the deck are but two structures risin.^ 

o 

above the surface, the pilot-house and turret. The 
pilot-house is forward, made of plates of iron, the 
whole about ten inches in thickness, and shot- 
proof Small slits and holes are cut through, to 
enable the pilot to see his course. The turret, 
which is apparently the main feature of the bat- 
tery, is a round cylinder, twenty feet in interior 
diameter, and nine feet high. It is built entirely 
of iron plates, one inch in thickness, eight of them 
securely bolted together, one over another. Within 
this is a lining of one-inch iron, acting as a damper 
to deaden the effects of a concussion wdien struc^k 
by a ball — thus there is a shield of nine inches of 
iron. The turret rests on a bed-plate, or ring, of 
composition, which is fastened to the deck. To 
help support the weight, which is about a hundred 
tons, a vertical shaft, ten inches in diameter, is at- 
tached and fastened to the bulk-head. The top is 
made shot-proof by huge iron beams, and perfo- 
rated to allow of ventilation. It has two circular 
port-holes, both on one side of the turret, three 
feet above the deck, and just large enough for the 
muzzle of the gun to be run out. The turret is 
made to revolve, being turned by a special engine. 
The operator within, by a rod connected with the 
engine, is enabled to turn it at pleasure. It can 



70 THE TURRET AND ENGINES. 

be made to revolve at the rate of sixty revolutions 
a minute, and can be regulated to stop within half 
a degree of a given point. When the guns are 
drawn in to load, the port-hole is stopped by a 
huge iron pendulum, which falls to its place, and 
makes that part as secure as any, and can he 
quickly hoisted to one side. The armanent con^ 
sists of two eleven-inch Dahlgren guns. Various 
improvements in the gun-carriage enable the gun- 
ner to secure almost perfect aim. 

" The engine is not of great power, as the vessel 
was designed as a battery, and not for swift sail- 
ing. It being almost entirely under water, the 
ventilation is secured by blowers, drawing the air 
in forward, and discharging it aft. A separate 
engine moves the blowers and fans the fires. There 
is no chimney, so the draft must be entirely artifi- 
cial. The smoke passes out of gratings in the 
deck. Many suppose the Monitor to be merely an 
iron-clad vessel, with a turret; but there are, in 
fact, between thirty and forty patentable inven- 
tions upon her, and the turret is by no means the 
most important one. Very properly, what these 
inventions are is not proclaimed to the public." 



CHAPTER V. 

ARRIVAL AT FORTRESS MONROE THE VILLAGE OF HAMPTON 

VISITING THE CONTRABANDS ARRIVAL OF FUGITIVES A 

REAL "camp meeting" FEEDING THE NEGROES CAMP 

MISERIES MULES MISS PERIWINKLe's MULES THE COQUET- 
TISH, THE MORAL, THE HISTRIONIC, AND THE PATHETIC MULE 

OUR JACK LINES OF LOVE MY BOX AND PRESENTS A 

THREE-STORY CAKE A SERENADE AND SURPRISE PARTY 

GOOD AND BAD CHAPLAINS THE MORALS OF THE ARMY 

SLANDERS ABOUT SOLDIERS. 

WE arrived at Fortress Monroe in a drenching 
rain, immediately disembarked, and pro- 
ceeded at once to Hampton — formerly a beautiful 
little village containing about five hundred houses, 
many of them elegant brick buildings, but which 
now lay a blackened mass of ruins, having been 
burned a few months previous by order of rebel 
General Magruder. The village was about three 
miles from Fortress Monroe, and situated on the 
west side of a creek, or arm of the sea, called 
Hampton river, the Yorktown road passing di- 
rectly through its center. It was a great relief to 
the troops to disembark from the filthy, crowded 
transports, notwithstanding they had to march 
through the mud and rain, and then pitch their 
tents on the wet ground. Fires were soon built, 
coffee made, and nice fresh bread served out. 



72 VISIT TO CONTRABANDS. 

which was brought to us by the commissary de- 
partment at the fort. 

As Mrs. B. and I had a little respite at this 
particular juncture, we set about visiting the con- 
trabands. They occupied a long row of board 
buildings near the fort. The men were employed 
in loading and unloading Government vessels, and 
the women were busily engaged in cooking and 
washing. No language can describe the joy of 
these men and women at beini^: liberated from 
bondage. As the Jews of old were looking for 
the promised Messiah, so the slaves universally re- 
garded the advent of the northern army as the 
harbinger of their deliverance. 

Mr. A. relates the following anecdote, illustra- 
tive of this fact, which took -place at the battle of 
Newbern : ''A slaveholder, breathless with terror, 
spurred his horse to his utmost speed past his own 
house, not venturing to stop. Just then a shell, 
with its terrific, unearthly shriek, rushed through 
the air over his head. A poor slave, a man of un- 
feigned piety and fervent prayer, in uncontrollable 
emotions of joy, ran into his humble cabin, shout- 
ing : ' Wife, he is running, he is running, and the 
wrath of God is after him. Glory hallelujah ! the 
appointed time has come; we are free, we are 
free!'" 

With regard to my own visit to the contraband 
quarters, I give the following extract from my 
journal : " Visited the contrabands to-day, and was 



ARRIVAL OF FUGITIVES. 73 

much pleased with their cheerful, happy appear- 
ance. They are exceedingly ignorant, yet there 
is one subject upon which they can converse free- 
ly and intelligibly, and that is — Christ — the way 
of salvation. Almost all with whom I conversed 
to-day were praying men and women. Oh, how 
I should like to teach these people ! They seem 
so anxious for instruction, I know they would 
learn quickly. Some of them are whiter and 
prettier than most of our northern ladies. There 
is a family here, all of whom have blue eyes, light 
hair, fair skin and rosy cheeks ; yet they are con- 
trabands, and have been slaves. But why should 
blue eyes and golden hair be the distinction be- 
tween bond and free ? " 

One bitter, stormy night, about eleven o'clock, 
a band of these poor fugitives, numbering over 
forty, presented themselves at the picket line, for 
admittance to the federal camp, imploring protec- 
tion. The officer of the picket guard being called, 
and the case presented, the contrabands were per- 
mitted to pass through. But no sooner had their 
poor torn and bleeding feet touched the federal 
soil, than they fell upon their knees, and returned 
thanks to God and to the soldiers for their deliver- 
ance. They came into camp about one o'clock in 
the morning, shouting '' Glory ! Glory to God ! " 
Notwithstanding the early hour, and the stormy 
night, the whole camp was aroused ; every one 
rushed out to find out the cause of the excite- 



U^, » ,, „ n, T^ t:, m T XT /^ " 



74 A REAL "camp MEETING 

ment. There tliej were, black as midnight, all 
huddlcd-together in a little group — some praying, 
some singing, and others shouting. We had a 
real " camp meeting" time for a while. Soon the 
exercises changed, and they began to relate their 
experiences, not only religious experiences, but a 
brief history of their lives. Some were husbands 
and fathers. Their masters had sold them down 
south, lest they should escape. In their terror 
they had escaped by night, and fled to the National 
banner for refuge, leaving all behind that was dear 
to them. 

In conclusion, one old man, evidently their 
leader, stood up and said: ''I tell you, my bred- 
dern, dat de good Lord has borne wid dis yere 
slavery long time wid great patience. But now he 
can't bore it no longer, no how ; and he has said 
to de people ob de North — go and tell de slave- 
holders to let de people go, dat dey may sarve me." 
There were many there who had listened to the 
old colored man's speech and believed, as I did, 
that there was more truth than poetry in it. Many 
hearts were moved with sympathy towards them, 
as was soon proved by the actions of the soldiers. 

An immense fire was built, around which these 
poor darkies eagerly gathered, as they were both 
wet, cold and hungry ; then a large camp kettle 
of coffee was made and set before them, with 
plenty of bread and meat to satisfy their ravenous 
uppetites — for ravenous they were, not having 



MULES. 75 

tasted food for more than t^YO days. Then blan- 
kets were provided, and they soon became com- 
fortable, and as happy as human beings could be 
under such circumstances. Mrs. B. and I re- 
turned to our tents feeling very much like in- 
dorsing the sentiment of ''\7ill Jones' rc::olve:" 

Resolved, although m}^ brother be a slave, 
And poor and black, ho is my brother still; 

Can I, o'er trampled '-institutions," save 

That brother from the chain and lash, I -will. 

A cold, drizzling rain continued to descend for 
several days, and our camp became a fair specimen 
of ''Virginia mud." I began to feel the effects of 
the miasma which came floating on every breeze 
from the adjacent swamps and marshes, and fever 
and ague became my daily companions for a time. 
As I sat in my tent, roasting cr shivering as the 
case might be, I took a strange pleasure in watch- 
ing the long trains of six mule teams which were 
constantly passing and repassing within a few rods 
of my tent. As ''Miss Periwinkle" remarks, there 
are several classes of mules. "The coquettish 
mule has small feet, a nicely trimmed tail, perked 
up ears, and seems much given to little tosses of 
the head, affected skips and prances, and, if he 
wears bells or streamers, puts on as many airs as 
any belle. The moral mule is a stout, hardwork- 
ing creature, always tugging with all his might, 
often pulling away after the rest have stopped, 
laboring under the conscientious delusion that food 



f6 MISS periwinkle's mules. 

for the entire army depends upon liis individual 
exertions. The histrionic mule is a melo-dramatic 
sort of quadruped, prone to startle humanity by 
erratic leaps and wild plunges, much shaking of 
the stubborn head and lashing of his vicious heels ; 
now and then falling flat, and apparently dying a 
la Forrest, a gasp, a groan, a shudder, etc., till the 
street is blocked up, the drivers all swearing like 
so many demons, and the chief actor's circulation 
becomes decidedly quickened by every variety of 
kick, cuff and jerk imaginable. When the last 
breath seems to have gone with the last kick, and 
the harness has been taken off, then a sudden res. 
urrection takes place. He springs to his feet, and 
proceeds to give himself two or three comfortable 
shakes, and if ever mule laughed in scornful tri- 
umph it is he, and as he cahrdy surveys the ex- 
cited crowd, seems to say: 'A hit! a decided 
hit ! ' For once the most stupid of all animals has 
outwitted more than a dozen of the lords of crea- 
tion. The pathetic mule is, perhaps, the most in- 
teresting of all ; for although he always seems to 
be the smallest, thinnest, and weakest of the six, 
yet, in addition to his equal portion of the heavy 
load, he carries on his back a great postillion, with 
tremendous boots, long tailed coat, and heavy 
whip. This poor creature struggles feebly along, 
head down, coat muddy and rough, eye spiritless 
and sid, and his whole appearance a perfect pic- 
ture of meek misery, fit to touch a heart of stone* 



LINESOFLOVE. 77 

Then there is another class of mules which always 
have a jolly, cheer-up sort of look about them — 
they take everything good natureclly, from cudgel- 
ing to carressing, and march along Avith a roguish 
twinkle in their eye which is very interesting." 

One morning, as I was just recovering from fe- 
ver and ague. Jack, our faithful colored boy, made 
his appearance at the door of my tent, touching 
his hat in the most approved military style, and 
handed me a letter bearing my address, saying, as 
he did so, " Dar's a box at de 'sprcss office for 
you. May I run and fotch it?" I said, "Oh, yes, 
Jack, you may bring it, but be careful and keep 
the cover on, there may be ohickens in it." Jack 
knew the meaning of that allusion to chickens, and 
so ran off singing : 

Massa run, ha, ha ! 

Darkies stay, ho, ho ! 
It must be now dat de kingdom 's cumin 

In de year ob jubilo. 

In the meantime I opened my letter, from 
which I make the following extract: ''Having 

learned your address through Mrs. L , whose 

son was killed at the battle of Bull Run, we send 
you a donation in token of our respect and es- 
teem, and of our gratitude for your faithfulness on 
the field and in the hospital." The following lines 
were also inclosed: 

In the ranks of the sick and d3ano;. in the cliamber where death-dews faU 
W^l^prn the plopnor wnl.'r"^ froni 1ii« tr'^n'^f'9 in lp;m to iVm> lnifvio-rnll. 



78 MY BOX AND PRESENTS. 

Is there hope for the wounded soldier ? Ah, no I for his heart-blood flows' 
And the llickering flames of life must wane, to fail at the evening's clos& 

Oh, thou who goest, like a sunbeam, to lighten the darkness and gloom, 
Make way for tlie path of glory througli the dim and shadowy room ; 
Go speak to him words of comfort, and teach him the way to die, 
With his eyes upraised from the starry flag to the blessed cross on high. 

And tell him brave hearts are beating with pulses as noble as thine ; 
That we count them at home by the thousands — thou sweetest sister of 

mine ; 
That they fail not and flinch not from duty whUe the vials of wrath ar© 

outpoured. 
And tell him to call it not grievous, but joyous to fall by the sword. 

"When the hosts of the foe are outnumbered, and the day of the Lord is at 

hand. 
Shall we halt in the heat of the battle, and fail at the word of command? 
Oh, no! through the trouble and anguish, by the terrible pathway of 

blood, 
We must bear up the flag of our freedom, ou — on through the perilous 

flood. 

And if one should be brought faint and bleeding, though wounded, yet not 

unto death. 
Oh plead with the soft airs of heaven to favor his languishing breath ; 
IjC faithful to lieal and to save him, assuaging the fever and pains, 
Till the pulse' in his strong arm be strengthened and the blood courses free 

in his veins. 

While Mrs. B. and I were speculating with re- 
gard to the contents of the box, Jack's woolly 
head reappeared in the doorway, and the subject 
of our curiosity was before us. ''Dar it be, and 

mity heavy, too ; guess it mus' be from ." So 

saying, young hopeful disappeared. The box was 
soon opened, its contents examined and comment- 
ed upon. First came a beautiful silk and rubber 
reversible cloak, which could be folded into such 



A THREE-STORY CAKE. 79 

a small compass that it could bo put into an ordi- 
nary sized pocket, and a pair of rubber boots. 

Then came a splendid silver-mounted revolver, 
belt and miniature cartridge-box. But the great- 
est piece of perfection I ever saw came in the 
shape of a "housewife;" it was lined and covered 
with oil silk, and my name printed on it in gilt 
letters, above which was an eagle, and below was 
the following inscription : ''A thousand shall fall 
at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand ; 
but it shall not come nigh thee." Then came 
pocket-handkerchiefs, gloves, and other articles 
too numerous to mention. But last, not least, was 
found in the bottom, stowed away in one corner, 
two bottles of the best currant wine, a nice jar of 
jelly, and a large loaf of cake, frosted and mot- 
toed in fine style. This cake was certainly a great 
curiosity. It was a three-story cake, Avith three 
doors made to slide back by gently pulling a 
bell-handle which was made of rosettes of red, 
white and blue ribbon. To the first bell-cord was 
attached a sj)lendid gold ring, to the second a ten 
dollar gold piece, and to the third and last a small 
sized hunting cased gold watch and chain. At such 
revelations I began to feel as if my humble tent 
had become an enchanted palace, and that all I 
should have to do in future would be to rub that 
mysterious ring, and the genii would appear, ready 
to supply all my wants. We then commenced to 
divide the spoil, Mrs. B. positively asserting that 



80 GOOD AND BAD CHAPLAINS, 

she had no right to any part of the donation, and 
I telling her that in all probability it ^Yas all in- 
tended for her, and through one of those "slight 
mistakes" it was directed to me. 

The news of this wonderful box soon spread 
through camp, and the result was that we had a 
surprise party as soon as evening came, Chaplain 
B. taking the opportunity of making some very 
appropriate remarks on the occasion. Then came 
the band to serenade us, and the consequence was 
that our cake and wine disappeared with our nu- 
merous friends, for we found that all w^ere willing 
to obey the scriptural injunction, " Take a little 
wine," etc. Chaplain B. is a very worthy, zealous, 
faithful minister, and I have spoken very highly 
of him, but perhaps in doing so 1 have given the 
impression tliat all chaplains are good and faithful. 
I am very sorry to state that it is not so. There 
are some who have no fitness for their work, and 
some a disgrace to their profession. I think I am 
safe in saying that one bad chaplain will do more 
hiirm in a regiment thtm a hundred good men can 
counteract. If there is any place on earth where 
faithful ministers are needed more than another, it 
is in the army — it is in the hospital. But may 
God have mercy upon those who go there, whose 
object is dollars and cents — who neglect their 
duty, and fill the places which should be occupied 
by Christ-hke heralds of the cross who love the 
souls of their fellow men. I think the words of 



THE MORALS OF THE ARMY. 81 

the Saviour are particularly applicable to some of 
the chaplains of the army when He says: "Woe 
unto you hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom 
of heaven against men," etc. I have conversed 
with many in the army upon the subject of reli- 
gion, who told me that the conduct of certain 
chaplains had more influence in keeping them away 
from the Saviour than all the combined forces of 
the evil one. Such chaplains are there through 
political influence, regardless of qualifications. 
Some persons have tried very hard to get up 
the general belief that the army is terribly demor- 
alized in its best estate, and all who go there 
must inevitably plunge into vice '^ but a greater 
slander was never propagated. There is, undoubt- 
edly, vice in the army ; but where is there a city 
or community throughout the North where vice is 
not to be found ? notwithstanding the tide of mo- 
ral and religious influence which is daily brought 
to bear against it. Although the outer man ap- 
pears rough, and much drunkenness and other 
evils exist in the army, yet there is much that is 
pure, lovely, and of good report in the character 
of both officers and men. '' I can sjDeak of that I 
do know, and testify of that which I have seen," 
and I am free to say that I think the morals of 
the majority of the men are quite as good, if not 
better than you will find among the same number 
at home, made up of all classes as we find them in 
the army. 



82 MARCH TO YORKTOWN. 

It is true many have backslidden since they left 
home ; but is equally true that vevTj many have 
been reformed, and are now better men than when 
they enlisted. Every day's history proves that 
there are thousands of noble hearted, pure minded 
christians in our army, and none but traitors and 
infidels, the enemies of God and man, will deny 
this fact. 



CHAPTER Yl. 

THE MARCH TO YORKTOWN SCARCITY OF SUPPLIES CAMP 

COOKERY DIFFERENT CHARACTERS IN THE ARMY ARRIVAL 

OF TRAINS CHANGE OF CAMP TRYING TO SHELL US OUT 

THE OLD SAW-MILL A CONSTANT TARGET ASSAULTS ON OUR 

OUTPOSTS A REBEL APPEAL YORKTOWN AND VICINITY 

THE SITUATION BALLOON RECONNOISSANCES PROF. LOWE ON 

HIGH REBEL VIXENS A CURIOUS VISIT A STRANGE HOST- 
ESS SHE TRIES TO KILL ME 1 WOUND HER AND CAPTURE 

A PRISONER A CONVEKSION THE SECESH WOMAN BECOMES 

A FEDERAL NURSE. 

ON TO RICHMOND once more resounded 
through the camp, and the army was again in 
motion. The Yorktown road is one long to be 
remembered, especially by those who that day 
had to toil through its mud and mire, or, by 
making a mis-step, fall into one of the yawning 
chasms from which some unfortunate mule had 
been drawn. The rain had continued almost all 
the time we were encamped at Hampton, '' satu- 



SCARCITY OF SUPPLIES. 83 

rating the clayey soil, which soon became a vast 
bed of mortar under the artillery trains.'' The 
distance from Hampton to Yorktown" is about 
twenty- three miles, and it required all the deter- 
mination and energy of veterans to march half 
that distance in a day. With two days' rations in 
their haversacks, the men marched until they ar- 
rived in front of Yorktown, where they bivouacked 
on the ground, over which the water was running 
like a flood. We remained three days in that con- 
dition, and it was the first time I ever saw any- 
thing like scarcity of food in the army. 

It was scarce indeed, for we were only supplied 
with two days' rations on starting from Hampton. 
The fifth day had arrived, but no provisions had 
yet appeared, and it seemed morally impossible to 
get a supply train over the road. Mile after mile 
of corduroy bridge had to be made before a team 
dare venture to approach. Our horses, too, were 
as badly off for forage as the men were for provis 
ions. On the fifth day, with several others, I le- 
ceived permission to go out and buy what we 
could at the houses anywhere within three miles 
of our encampment. 

After procuring a quantity of biscuit, pies, and 
corn bread, we returned to camp, and were quite 
surprised to find the boys engaged in cutting up 
and cooking fresh steak. We thought, of course, 
our provisions had arrived, but found that it was 
only a little dash they had just made upon the 



84 CAMP COOKERY. 

''chivalry's" cattle, appropriating them to their 
own use with a sort of earnestness which seemed 
to say, I firmly believe in the old proverb, Aide 
toi^ et le del t'aidera. 

Oh, what a place the army is for the study of 
human nature ! As I looked around upon that 
mass of busy men, I thought I could discover al- 
most every trait in the human character depicted 
upon their countenances. There was the selfish 
man, only intent upon serving himself, and fearing 
there would not enough come to his share to 
satisfy his wants; then there was old churlish 
Nabal away by himself building a fire for his own 
especial benefit, and which ''no m.an dare ap- 
proach unto," no, not within baking, broiling, or 
roasting distance, not even to get a coal to kindle 
one for himself But that class of character, thank 
heaven, was a very small minority. There, too, 
was the cheerful, happy man, who had been seve- 
ral hours engaged in cutting up and serving out 
to others, and had no lot or part in the broiled 
steaks which were smoking around him ; yet he 
looked as good natured as if he had dined on 
roast beef and plum pudding. Then there was 
another phase of character — one who always made 
it the first duty, under all circumstances, to look 
after those who w^ere not able to look after them- 
selves. 

While the little trials of ca.mp life have a tcn- 
denov to harden Rud sour the rlimiocif ions of some. 



CHANGE OFCA MP. 85 

they seem to bring to light and develop the cheer- 
ful, happy, unselfish spirit of others. One has 
truthfully said that '' there is no other quality so 
diffusive of joy, both to him who possesses it and 
to those with whom he has friendly intercourse, as 
cheerfulness. It is the phase of a soul sitting in 
its own sunshine. There are luminous planets 
which are viewed by the aid of their own light, 
others there are which are seen through bor- 
rowed light. So it is with individuals. There 
seem to be some who have scarcely any light of 
their own, and who shine by the reflection of the 
light of others ; while others there are who pos- 
sess an intrinsic and inexhaustible source of sun- 
shine, which renders them not only self-illumina- 
ting, but capable of irradiating those around them. 
Many are cheerful when a sparkling rill of plea- 
sure is gurgling in their hearts, or when prosperity 
encircles them, or looms up gorgeously in theii 
prospective vision. But few are cheerful when 
adversity casts its gloomy shadows around them; 
when sorrow and disappointment dry up their 
fountains of pleasure and wither their hopes. In 
such crises cheerfulness is an independent virtue, 
and in others an accidental mood." 

The despondency of the few was soon removed, 
and the patience and cheerfulness of the many re- 
warded by the arrival of the provision and bag- 
gage trains. We then exchanged our camp for 
one in a more pleasant locality, where there was 



86 THE OLD SAW -MILL. 

more wood and not quite so much water, which 
added much to the comfort of the troops. The 
enemy soon found out our position, and did not 
fail to inform us of the fact by frequently saluting 
us with an immense shell, or thirty-two pound 
cannon ball, which would burst over our heads or 
iall within a few rods — often within a few feet — of 
our tents. We remained in that camp just one 
month, and, notwithstanding the enemy shelled us 
night and day, I never saw a man or beast injured 
by shot or shell in camp while we remained there. 

I presume many of my readers will remember 
seeing or hearing of the old saw-mill which stood 
near a peach orchard, and which the soldiers per- 
sisted in running, to the great annoyance of the 
rebels. That old saw-mill deserves to be immor- 
talized in song as well as in history ; and if it 
stood in any other than a christian land, it w^ould 
undoubtedly become an object of idolatry. There 
it stood, in perfect range of the enemy's batteries, 
a target at which they never seemed tired of firing, 
while our brave soldiers risked their lives in saw- 
ing lumber for the purpose of laying board floors 
in the hospital tents, to secure some degree of 
comfort for their poor sick comrades. 

Time after time the mill was set on fire by the 
explosion of shells as they passed through it, but 
up would go some brave young hero, and stand in 
the very jaws of death while his companions would 
liand him bucket after bucket of water to quench 



A CONSTANT TARGET. 87 

the flames. As soon as the fire was extinguished 
the men resumed their labor, and the old mill 
steamed away with all its might, as if proud of the 
"stars and stripes" which Avaved from its summit, 
and of being permitted to show its patriotism and 
zeal for the glorious cause of freedom by working 
for good old "Uncle Sam" and his noble sons. 
Then it would give vent to its pent up wrath in 
hisses and shrieks, bidding proud defiance to Jeff. 
Davis and his minions, who were trying in vain to 
stop its humane and patriotic efforts. For more 
than three weeks those brave men kept the steam 
up in that mill, until their object was accom- 
plished, having to stop almost every half hour to 
repair the ravages of shot and shell. Notwith- 
standing the constant fire of the rebel batteries, 
the dilapidated appearance of the mill from its 
effects, and the danger of the situation, yet not a 
man was killed in or about it, and not one wound- 
ed, to my knowledge. 

I remember one day of passing the mill in a 
great hurry — and it was well that I was in a hurry, 
for I had scarcely rode by it when I heard a ter^ 
rific crash close at hand, which made my horse 
leap from the ground with terror. Upon turning 
round I saw that a part of the smoke stack had 
been carried away, and the mill was on fire. I 
rode up to the door and inquired if any one was 
killed or injured ; no, not a man was hurt, and the 
fire was soon subdued by the vigorous efforts of 



88 A REBEL APPEAL. 

those sturdy soldiers, who looked as jollj over the 
disaster as if it had really been a good joke. 

The rebels were beginning to make some des- 
perate assaults upon our outposts; they w^ere 
driving in the advance pickets on our left Aving, 
and making similar demonstrations along different 
parts of the line. They were evidently concen- 
trating a large force behind their fortifications, 
and were determined to make a desperate resist- 
ance. Deserters came in bringing Richmond pa- 
pers crowded with appeals to the Southern '' chiv- 
alry," of which the following is a specimen : 

" The next few days may decide the fate of 
Richmond. It is either to remain the Capital of 
the Confederacy, or to be turned over to the Fed- 
eral Government as a Yankee conquest. The 
Capital is either to be secured or lost — it may be 
feared not temporarily, and with it Virginia. 
Then, if there is blood to be shed, let it be shed 
here ; no soil of the Confederacy could drink it 
up more acceptably, and none would hold it more 
gratefully. Wife, family, and friends are nothing. 
Leave them all for one glorious hour to be devoted 
to the R^epublic. Life, death, and wounds are 
nothing if we only be saved from the fate of a 
captured and humiliated Confederacy. Let the 
Government act; let the people act. There is 
time yet. If fate comes to its worst, let the ruins 
of Richmond be its most lasting monument." 

General McClellan's despatch to the War De- 



SITUATION AT YORKTOWN. 89 

partment will best describe the state of affairs at 
this time in Yorktown and vicinity ; he says : 

"The whole line of the Warwick, which really 
heads within a mile of Yorktown, is strongly de- 
fended by detached redoubts and other fortifica- 
tions, armed with heavy and light guns. The 
approaches, except at Yorktown, are covered by 
the Warwick, over which there is but one, or at 
most, two passages, both of which are covered by 
strong batteries. All the prisoners state that 
General J. E. Johnson arrived at Yorktown yes- 
terday, with strong reinforcements. It seems clear 
that I shall have the whole force of the enemy on 
my hands — probably not less than one hundred 
thousand men, and possibly more. 

'' Under the circumstances which have been de- 
veloped since we arrived here, I feel fully im- 
pressed with the conviction that here is to be 
fought the great battle that is to decide the exist 
ing contest. I shall of course commence the 
attack as soon as I can get up my siege train, and 
shall do all in my power to carry the enemy's 
works ; but to do this, with a reasonable degree 
of certainty, requires, in my judgment, that I 
should, if possible, have at least the whole of the 
first corps to land upon the Severn river and at- 
tack Gloucester in the rear. My present strength 
will not admit of a detachment sufficient for this 
|;urpose without materially impairing the efficiency 
of this column." 



90 REBEL VIXENS. 

While these preparations were going forward 
on both sides, Professor Lowe was making balloon 
reconnoissances, and transmitting the result of his 
observations to General McClellan by telegraph 
from his castle in the air, which seemed suspended 
from the clouds, reminding one of the fabled gods 
of old looking down from their ethereal abodes 
upon the conflicts of the inhabitants of this mun- 
dane sphere. One of the officers one day play- 
fully remarked: "Professor, I am always sorry 
when I see you descend with your balloon." 
''Why are you sorry, Colonel? Would you wish 
to see me susper.ded between heaven and earth all 
the time?" ''Oh, no, not that; but when I see 
you coming down I am afraid you will never get 
so near heaven again." 

I Avas often sent out to procure supplies for the 
hospitals, butter, eggs, milk, chickens, etc., and in 
my rambles I used to meet with many interesting 
adventures. In some instances I met with narrow 
escapes with my life, which were not quite so in- 
teresting ; and the timely appearance of my re- 
volver often rescued me from the hands of the 
female rebels of the Peninsula. Persons dwelling 
in regions which slavery has not debased can 
hardly imagine the malice and ferocity manifested 
by the rebel vixens of the slave states. Upon 
this point the testimony from all parts of the 
South is invariable. The Louisville Journal says : 
*' Thousands have read with astonishment the ac- 



ACURIOUSVISIT. 91 

count which historians give of the conduct of 
women in Paris during the Reign of Terror. The 
women are said to have been more fierce and 
bloodthirsty than even the fiercest and most blood- 
thirsty of the men. Many of our people have sup- 
posed that the accounts given of those things must 
surely be fictions or exaggerations. They have 
felt themselves unable to conceive that woman's 
nature could become a thing so utterly revolting. 
But if they will look and listen in this region, at 
the present time, they will find that they have no 
further reason for incredulity or scepticism. The 
bitter and ferocious spirit of thousands of rebel 
women in Kentucky, Tennessee, and other States, 
is scarcely, if at all, surpassed by the female mon- 
sters that shrieked and howled for victims in the 
French Revolution." 

I will here relate a little incident illustrative of 
the peculiarity of my adventures while on this ca- 
tering business: One morning I started, all alone, 
for a five mile ride to an isolated farm-house about 
three miles back from the Hampton road, and 
which report said was well supplied with all the 
articles of which I was in search. I cantered alon^: 
briskly until I came to a gate Avhich opened into 
a lane leading directly to the house. It was a 
large old fashioned two-story house, with immense 
chimneys built outside, Virginia style. The farm 
appeared to be in good condition, fences all up, 
a rare thing on the Peninsula, and corn-fields 



92 A STRANGE HOSTESS, 

flourishing as if there were no such thing as wai 
in the hind. 

I rode up to the house and dismount^, hitched 
mj horse to a post at the door, and proceeded 
to ring the bell. A tall, stately lady made her ap- 
pearance, and invited me in with much apparent 
courtesy. She w^as dressed in deep mourning, 
which was very becoming to her pale, sad face. 
She seemed to be about thirty years of age, very 
prepossessing in appearance, and evidently be- 
longed to one of the 'T. F. Vs." As soon as I 
was seated she inquired: ''To what fortunate cir- 
cumstance am I to attribute the pleasure of this 
unexpected call ? " I told her in a few words the 
nature of my business. The intelligence seemed 
to cast a deep shadow over her pale features, 
which all her efforts could not control. She 
seemed nervous and excited, and something in 
her appearance aroused my suspicion, notw^ith- 
standing her blandness of manner and lady-like 
deportment. 

She invited me into another room, while she 
prepared the articles which she proposed to let 
me have, but I declined, giving as an excuse that 
I preferred to sit where I could see whether 
my horse remained quiet. I watched all her 
movements narrowly, not daring to turn my eyes 
Qside for a single moment. She walked round in 
her stately way for some time, without accom- 
plishing much in the way of facilitating my depar 



SHE TRIES TO KILL ME. 93 

ture, and she was evidently trying to detain me 
for some purpose or other. Could it be that she 
was meditating the best mode of attack, or was 
she expecting some one to come, and trying 
to detain me mitil their arrival ? Thoughts like 
these passed through my mind in quick succession. 

At last I rose up abruptly, and asked her if the 
things were ready. She answered me with an as- 
sumed smile of surprise, and said : " Oh, I did not 
know that you were in a hurry : I was waiting 
for the boys to come and catch some chickens for 
you." "And pray, madam, where are the boys ? " 
I asked ; '' Oh, not far from here," was her reply. 
" Well, I have decided not to wait ; you will 
please not detain me longer," said I, as I moved 
toward the door. She began to pack some butter 
and eggs both together in a small basket which I 
had brought with me, while another stood beside 
her without anything in it. I looked at her ; sh(3 
was trembling violently, and was as pale as death. 
In a moment more she handed me the basket, and 
I held out a greenback for her acceptance ; " Oh, 
it was no consequence about the pay ; " she did 
not wish anything for it. So I thanked her and 
went out. 

In a few moments she came to the door, but did 
not offer to assist me, or to hold the basket, or 
anything, but stood looking at me most malicious- 
ly, I thought. I placed the basket on the top of 
the post to which my horse had been hitched, took 



94 I CAPTURE A PRISONER. 

my seat in the saddle, and then rode tip and took 
my basket. Turning to her I bade her good 
morning, and thanking her again for her kindness, 
I turned to ride away. 

I had scarcely gone a rod when she discharged 
a pistol at me ; by some intuitive movement I 
threw myself forward on my horse's neck and the 
ball passed over my head. I turned my horse in 
a twinkling, and grasped my revolver. She was 
in the act of firing the second time, but was so 
excited that the bullet Avent wide of its mark. I 
held my seven-shooter in my hand, considering 
where to aim. I did not wish to kill the wretch, 
but did intend to wound her. When she saw that 
two could play at this game, she dropped her 
pistol and threw up her hands imploringly. I 
took deliberate aim at one of her hands, and sent 
the ball through the palm of her left hand. She 
fell to the ground in an instant with a loud shriek. 
I dismounted, and took the pistol which lay be- 
side her, and placing it in my belt, proceeded to 
take care of her ladyship after the following man- 
ner : I unfastened the end of my halter-strap and 
tied it painfully tight around her right wrist, and 
remounting my horse, I started, and brought the 
lady to consciousness by dragging her by the 
wrist two or three rods along the ground. I 
stopped, and she rose to her feet, and with wild 
entreaties she begged me to release her, but, in- 
stead of doing so, I presented a pistol, and told 



MY WOUNDED PRISONER. • 95 

her that if she uttered another word or scream 
she was a dead woman. In that way I succeeded 
m keepmg her from alarming any one who might 
be within calling distance, and so made my way 
toward McClellan's headquarters. 

After we had gone in that way about a mile 
and a half, I told her that she might ride if she 
w^ished to do so, for I saw she was becoming 
weak from loss of blood. She was glad to accept 
the offer, and I bound up her hand w^ith my hand- 
kerchief, gave her my scarf to throw over her 
head, and assisted her to the saddle. I marched 
along beside her, holding tight to the bridle rein 
all the while. When we were about a mile from 
McClellan's headquarters hhe fainted, and I caught 
her as she was falling from the horse. I laid her 
by the roadside Avhile I went for some water, 
which I brought in my hat, and after bathing her 
face for some time she recovered. 

For the first time since we started I entered 
into conversation with her, and found that within 
the last three weeks she had lost her father, hus- 
band, and two brothers in the rebel army. They 
had all belonged to a company of sharpshooters, 
and were the first to fall. She had been almost 
insane since the intelligence reached her. She 
said I was the first Yankee that she had seen since 
the death of her relatives, the evil one seemed to 
urge her on to the step she had taken, and if I 
would not deliver her up to the military powers. 



96 ACONVERSION. 

she would go with me and take care of tho 
wounded. She even proposed to take the oath 
of allegiance, and seemed deeply penitent. '' If 
thy brother (or sister) sin against thee, and re- 
pent, forgive him," are the words of the Saviour. 
I tried to follow their sacred teachings there and 
then, and told her that I forgave her fully if she 
was only truly penitent. Her answer was sobs 
and tears. 

' Soon after this conversation we started for camp, 
she weak and humbled, and 1 strong and rejoicing. 
None ever knew from that day to this the secret of 
that secesh woman becoming a nurse. Instead of 
being taken to General McClellan's headquarters, 
she went direct to the hospital, where Dr, P. 
dressed her hand, which Avas causing her extreme 
pain. The good old surgeon never could solve 
the mystery connected with her hand, for we both 
refused to answer any questions relating to the 
wound, except that she was shot by a '' Yankee," 
which placed the surgeon under obligations to 
take care of the patient until she recovered — that 
is to say as long as it was convenient for him io 
do so. 

The next day she returned to her house in an 
ambulance, accompanied by a hosj^ital steward, 
and brought away everything which could be 
made use of in the hospitals, and so took up her 
abode with us. Her name was Alice M., but we 
called her Nellie J. She soon proved the genuine^ 



A LOST FRIEND. 97 

ness of her conversion to the Federal faith bj her 
zeal for the cause which she had so recently es- 
poused. As soon as she was well enough to act 
in the capacity of nurse she commenced in good 
earnest, and became one of the most faithful and 
efficient nurses in the army of the Potomac. But 
that was the first and the only instance of a female 
rebel changing her sentiments, or abating one iota 
in her cruelty or hatred toward the " Yankees ;" and 
also the only real lady in personal appearance, 
education and refinement, that I ever met iimong 
the females of the Peninsula. 



CHAPTER YII. 

A LOST FRIEND DEATFI OF LIEL'TEXANT JAMES V. HI9 BURIAL 

THE GRAVE BY NIGHT MY VOW A SOLDIER-CHAPLAIN • 

RECOGNITIONS IN HEAVEN DOUBTS AND DISSATISFACTION — • 

CAPTURE OF A SPY MV EXAMINATIONS AT HEADQUARTERS 

MY DISGUISE AS A SPY 1 AM METAMORPHOSED INTO A 

CONTRABAND HIRED AS A COOK BISCUIT MAKING THS 

doctor's TEA. 

NOT long after these events, returning one day 
from an excursion, I found the camp almost 
deserted, and an unusual silence pervading all 
around. Upon looking to the right and left to 
discover the cause of so much quietness, I saw a 
procession of soldiers slowly winding their way 
from a peach orchard, where they had just depos^ 



98 DEATH OF LIEUT. JAMES V. 

ited the remains of a comrade. Who could it 
have been ? I did not dare to go and meet them 
to inquire, but I Avaited in painful suspense until 
the procession came up, with arms reversed. With 
sad faces and slow and measured tread they re- 
tu-ried in order as they had gone. I stepped for- 
ward and inquired whom they had buried. Lieu- 
tenant James V. was the reply. 

My friend ! They had buried him, and I had 
not seen him ! I went to my tent without uttering 
a word. I felt as if it could not be possible that 
what I heard was true. It must be some one else. 
I did not inquire how, when or where he had been 
killed, but there I sat with tearless eyes. Mr. and 
Mrs. B. came in, she sobbing aloud, he calm and 
dignified, but with tears slowly rolling down his 
face. Lieutenant Y. was thirty-two years of age; 
he was tall, had black wavy hair, and large black 
eyes. He was a sincere christian, active in all the 
duties devolving upon a christian soldier, and was 
greatly beloved both by officers and men. His 
loss was deeply felt. His heart, though brave, 
was tender as a woman's. He was noble and gen- 
erous, and had the highest regard for truth and 
law. Although gentle and kind to all, yet he had 
;m indomitable spirit and a peculiar courage and 
daring, which almost amounted to recklessness in 
time of danger. He was not an American, but 
Was born of English parents, and was a native of 
St. John, New Brunswick. I had known him al- 



HIS BURIAL. 99 

most from cliildliood, and found him always a 
faithful friend. 

AVhen we met in the army we met as strangers. 
The changes which five years had wrought, and 
the costume which I wore, together with change 
of name, rendered it impossible for him to recog- 
nize me. I was glad that he did not, and took 
peculiar pleasure in remaining unrecognized. 
We became acquainted again, and a new friend- 
ship sprang up, on his part, for mine was not new, 
which was very pleasant, at least to me. At times 
my position became very embarrassing, for I was 
obliged to listen to a recapitulation of my own 
former conversations and correspondence with 
him, which made me feel very much like an eaves- 
dropper. He had neither wife, mother -nor sister, 
and, like myself, was a wanderer from his native 
land. There was a strong bond of sympathy ex^ 
isting between us, for we both believed that duty 
called us there, and were willing to lay down even 
life itself, if need be, in this glorious cause. Now 
he was gone, and I was left alone with a deeper 
sorrow in my heart than I had ever known before. 

Chaplain B. broke the painful silence by inform- 
ing me how he had met his fate. He was acting 
in the capacity of aide-de-camp on General C.'s 
staff. He was sent to carry an order from head- 
quarters to the officer in command of the outer 
picket line, and while riding along the line he was 
struck by a Minnie ball, which passed through the 



100 THE GRAVE BY NIGHT. 

temple, killing him instantly. His remains were 
brought to camp and prepared for their last rest- 
ing place. Without shroud or coffin, wrapped in 
his blanket, his body was committed to the cold 
ground. They made his grave under a beautiful 
pear tree, in full bloom, where he sleeps peaceful- 
ly, notwithstanding the roar of cannon and the din 
of battle which peal forth their funeral notes over 
his dreamless bed. 

One more buried 

Beneath the sod, 
One more standing 

Before his God. 

We should not weep 

That he has gone ; 
With us 'tis night, 

With him 'tis morn. 

Night came at last with its friendly mantle, and 
our camp was again hushed in comparative repose. 
Twelve o'clock came, but I could not sleep. 
Visions of a pale face and a mass of black wavy 
hair, matted with gore which oozed from a dark 
purple spot on the temple, haunted me. I rose 
up quietly and passed out into the open air. The 
cool night breeze felt grateful to my burning brow, 
which glowed with feverish excitement. With a 
hasty word of explanation I passed the camp 
guard, and was soon beside the grave of Lieuten- 
ant y. The solemn grandeur of the heavens, the 
silent stars looking lovingly down upon that little 
heaped up mound of earth, the death-like stillness 



A SOLDIER CHAPLAIN. 101 

of the hour, only broken by the occasional boom- 
ing of the enemy's cannon, all combined to make 
the scene awfully impressive. I felt that I was 
not alone. I was in the presence of that God who 
had summoned my friend to the eternal world, and 
the spirit of the departed one was hovering near, 
although my dim eyes could not penetrate the 
mysterious veil which hid him from my view. It 
was there, in that midnight hour, kneeling beside 
the grave of him who was very dear to me, that I 
vowed to avenge the death of that christian hero. 
I could now better understand the feelings of poor 
Nellie when she fired the pistol at me, because I 
was '^ one of the hated Yankees who was in sym- 
pathy with the murderers of her husband, father 
and brothers." 

But I could not forgive his murderers as she 
nad done. I did not enjoy taking care of the sick 
and wounded as I once did, but I longed to go 
forth and do, as a noble chaplain did at the battle 
of Pittsburg Landing. He picked up the musket 
and cartridge-box of a wounded soldier, stepped 
into the front rank, and took deliberate aim at one 
rebel after another until he had fired sixty rounds 
of cartridge ; and as he sent a messenger of death 
to each heart he also sent up the following brief 
prayer: "May God have mercy upon your miser- 
able soul." 

From this time forward I became strangely in- 
terested in the fifteenth chapter of first Corinthians ' 



102 RECOGNITION IN HEAVEN. 

the doctrine of the resurrection, and the hope of 
'^ recognition of friends in heaven'' became very 
precious to me. For I believe Avith regard to our 
departed loved ones, that 



"When safely landed on that heavenly shore 
Whs e sighings cease and sorrows come no more- 
Vith liearts no more by cruel anguish riven, 
As we have loved on earth we'll love in heaven. 



And infinitely more than we are capable of loving 
here. "Few tilings connected with the great here- 
after so deeply concern the heart as the question 
of personal recognition in heaven. Dear ones of 
earth, linked to our hearts by the most tender ties, 
have departed and gone away into the unknown 
realm. We have carefully and tearfully laid their 
bodies in the grave to slumber till the great 
awakening morning. If there is no personal re- 
cognition in heaven, if we shall neither see nor 
know our friends there, so far as we are concerned 
they are annihilated, and heaven has no genuine 
antidote for the soul's agony in the hour of be- 
reavement. All the precious memories of toil and 
trial, of conflict and victory, of gracious manifes- 
tations and of holy joy, shared with them in the 
time of our pilgrimage, will have perished forever. 
The anxiety of the soul with regard to the recog- 
nition of our friends in the future state is natural. 
It springs from the holiest sympathies of the hu- 
man heart, and any inquiry that may solve our 



DOUBTS AND DISSATISFACTION. 103 

doubts or relieve our anxiety is equally rational 
and commendable. 

"Tell me, ye who have seen the open tomb re- 
ceive into its bosom the sacred trust committed to 
its keeping, in hope of the first resurrection — ye 
Avho have heard the sullen rumbling of the clods 
as they dropped upon the coffin lid, and told you 
that earth had gone back to earth ; when the sep- 
aration from the object of .your love was realized 
in all the desolation of bereavement, next to the 
thought that you should ere long see Christ as he 
is and be like him, was not that consolation the 
strongest which assured you that the departed 
one, whom God has put from you into darkness, 
will run to meet you when you cross the threshold 
of immortality, and, with the holy rapture to 
which the redeemed alone can give utterance, lead 
you to the exalted Saviour, and with you bow at 
his feet and cast the conqueror's crown before 
him ? And is this hope vain ? Shall we not even 
know those dear ones in the spirit world ? Was; 
this light of hope that gilded so beautifully the 
sad, chirk hour of human woe, only a mocking tgnis 
fatuus^ so soon to go out in everlasting darkness? 
Is this affection, so deep, so holy, 3'earning over 
its object with undying love, to be nipped in the 
very bud of its being ? Nay, it cannot be. There 
must have been some higher purpose ; God could 
not delight in the bestowal of affections that were 
to be blighted in their very beginning, and of 



104 FRIENDLY COUNSEL. 

liopes that were to end only in the mockery of 
eternal disappointment. " 

If fate unite the faithful hnt to part, 
"Why is their memory sacred to the heart? 

Oh, thank God for faith! for a faith that takes 
hold of that which is within the veil. There we 
behold our loved ones basking in the sunshine of 
the Redeemer's love — there they see Him face to 
face, and know as they are known. And they 
speak to us from the bright eternal world, and 
bid us 

Weep not at nature's transient pain ; 
Congenial spirits part to meet again. 

Just at this crisis I received a letter from a 
friend of mine at the North, disapproving in strong 
terms of my remaining any longer in the army, 
requesting me to give up my situation immediate- 
ly, and to meet him in Washington two weeks 
from date. I regarded that friend's opinions very 
much, especially when they coincided with my 
own ; but upon this point no two opinions could 
differ more widely than did ours. 

It is true I was becoming dissatisfied with my 
situation as nurse, and was determined to leave 
the hospital ; but before doing so I thought it best 
to call a council of three, Mr. and Mrs. B. and I, 
to decide what was the best course to pursue. 
After an hour's conference together the matter 
was decided in my mind. Chaplain B. told me 



CAPTURE OF A SPY. 105 

that he knew of a situation he could get for me if 
I had sufiicient moral courage to undertake its 
duties; and, said he, "it is a situation of great 
danger and of vast responsibility." 

That morning a detachment of the Thirty-sev- 
enth New York had been sent out as scouts, and 
had returned bringing in several prisoners, who 
stated that one of the Federal spies had been cap- 
tured at Richmond and was to be executed. This 
information proved to be correct, and we lost a 
valuable soldier from the secret service of the 
United States. Now it was necessary for that va- 
cancy to be supplied, and, as the Chaplain had 
said with reference to it, it was a situation of great 
danger and vast responsibility, and this Avas the 
one which Mr. B. could procure for me. But Avas 
I capable of filling it with honor to myself and ad- 
vantage to the Federal Government? This was 
an important question for me to consider ere I 
proceeded further. I did consider it thoroughly, 
and made up my mind to accept it with all its 
fearful responsibilities. The subject of life and 
death was not weighed in the balance ; I left that 
in the hands of my Creator, feeling assured that I 
was just as safe in passing the picket lines of the 
enem.y, if it was God's will that I should go there, 
as I would be in the Federal camp. And if not, 
then His will be done : 

Then welcome death, the end of fears. 

My name was sent in to headquarters, and T was 



106 DISGUISE AS A SPY. 

t^oon summoned to appear there myself. Mr. and 
Mrs. B. accompanied me. We were ushered into 
the presence of Generals Mc, M. and H., where I 
was questioned and cross-questioned with regard 
to my views of the rebellion and my motive in 
wishing to engage in so perilous an undertaking. 
My views were freely given, my object briefly 
stated, and I had passed trial number one. 

Next I was examined with regard to my knowl- 
edge of the use of firearms, and in that depart- 
ment I sustained my character in a manner worthy 
of a veteran. Then I was again cross-questioned, 
but this time by a new committee of military stars. 
Next came a phrenological examination, and find 
ing that my organs of secretiveness, combat iven ess, 
etc., were largely developed, the oath of allegiance 
was administered, and I was dismissed with a few 
complimentary remarks which made the good Mr. 
B. feel quite proud of his protege. This was the 
third time that I had taken the oath of allegiance 
to the United States, and I began to think, as 
many of our soldiers do, that profanity had become 
a military necessity. 

I had three days in which to prepare for my 
debut into rebeldom, and I commenced at once to 
remodel, transform and metamorphose for the oc- 
casion. Early next morning I started for Fortress 
Monroe, where I procured a number of articles 
indispensably necessary to a complete disguise. 
In the first place I purchased a suit of contraband 



I TURN CONTRABAND. 107 

clothing, real plantation style, and then I went to 
a barber and had my hair sheared close to my 
head. 

Next came the coloring process — head, face, 
neck, hands and arms were colored black as any 
African, and then, to complete my contraband cos- 
tume, I required a wig of real negro wool. But 
how or Avhere was it to be found ? There was no 
such thing at the Fortress, and none short of 
Washington. Happily I found the mail-boat was 
about to start, and hastened on board, and finding 
a Postmaster with whom I was acquainted, I 
stepped forward to speak to him, forgetting my 
contraband appearance, and was saluted with — 
"Well, Massa Cuff— what will you have?" Said 
I: "Massa send me to you wid dis yere money 
for you to fotch him a darkie wig from Washing- 
ton." " What the does he want of a darkie 

wig?" asked the Postmaster. "No matter, dat's 
my orders ; guess it 's for some 'uoiterin' business." 
"Oh, for reconnoitering you mean; all right old 
fellow, I will bring it, tell him." I remained at 
Fortress Monroe until the Postmaster r-?turned 
with the article which was to complete my dis- 
guise, and then returned to camp near York town. 

On my return, I found myself without friends 
— a striking illustration of the frailty of human 
friendship — I had been forgotten in those three 
short days. I went to Mrs. B.'s tent and inquired if 
she wanted to hire a boy to take care of her horse. 



108 HIRED AS A COOK. 

She was very civil to me, asked if I came from 
Fortress Monroe, and whether I could cook. She 
did not want to hire me, but she thought she 
could find some one who did require a boy. Off 
she went to Dr. E. and told him that there was a 
smart little contraband there who was in search of 
work. Dr. E. came along, looking as important 
as two year old doctors generally do. " Well, my 
boy, how much work can you do in a day ? " " Oh, 
I reckon I kin work right smart; kin do heaps o' 
work. Will you hire me, Massa?" "Don't know 
but I may; can you cook?" "Yes, Massa, kin 
cook anything I ebber seen." "How much do 
you think you can earn a month ? " " Guess I kin 
earn ten dollars easy nuff." Turning to Mrs. B. 
he said in an undertone : " That darkie under- 
stands his business." "Yes indeed, I would hire 
him by all means, Doctor," said Mrs. B. " Well, 
if you wish, you can stay with me a month, and by 
that time I will be a better judge how much you 
can earn." 

So saying Dr. E. proceeded to give a synopsis 
of a contraband's duty toward a master of Avhom 
he expected ten dollars per month, especially em- 
phasising the last clause. Then I was introduced 
to the culinary department, which comprised flour, 
pork, beans, a small portable stove, a spider, and 
a medicine chest. It was noW supper time, and I 
was supposed to understand my business sufficient- 
ly to prepare supper without asking any questions 



THE doctor's TE4. 109 

whatever, and also to display some of my boasted 
talents by making warm biscuit for supper. But 
how was I to make biscuit with my colored hands ? 
and how dare I wash them for fear the color would 
wash off? All this trouble was soon put to an 
end, however, by Jack's making his appearance 
while I was stirring up the biscuit with a stick, 
and in his bustling, officious, negro style, he said : 
'^ See here nig — you don't know nuffin bout makin 
bisket. Jis let me show you once, and dat ar will 
save you heaps o' trouble wid Massa doct'r for 
time to come." I very willingly accepted of this 
proffered assistance, for I had all the necessary in- 
gredients in the dish, with pork fat for shortening, 
and soda and cream-tartar, which I found in the 
medicine chest, ready for kneading and rolling 
out. After washing his hands and rolling up his 
sleeves. Jack went to work with a flourish and a 
grin of satisfaction at being " boss" over the new 
cook. Tea made, biscuit baked, and the medicine 
chest set off with tin cups, plates, etc., supper was 
announced. Dr. E. was much pleased with the 
general appearance of things, and was evidently 
beginning to think that he had found rather an in- 
telligent contraband for a cook. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

MV FIRST SECRET EXPEDITION MY WORK AMONG CONTRA- 
BANDS PICKAXE, SHOVEL AND WHEELBARROW COUNTING 

THE GUNS IN A REBEL FORTIFICATION A CHANGE OF WORK 

CARRYING WATER TO THE REBEL SOLDIERS GENERALS LEE 

AND JOHNSON THE REBEL FORCE AT YORKTOWN A COUN- 
CIL OF WAR TURNING WHITE AGAIN A REBEL SPY LIEU- 
TENANT V.'S MURDERER ON PICKET DUTY MY RETURN TO 

OUR LINES 1 PUT ON UNIFORM AND MAKE MY REPORT. 

AFTER supper I was left to my own reflections, 
which were anything but pleasant at that 
time.; for in the short space of three hours I must 
take up my line of march toward the camp of the 
enemy. As 1 sat there considering whether it was 
best for me to make myself known to Mrs. B. be- 
fore I started, Dr. E. put his head in at the tent 
door and said in a hurried manner : " Ned, I want 
you to black my boots to-night ; I shall require 
them early in the morning." ''All right, Massa 
Doctor," said I; "I allers blacks de boots over 
night." After washing up the few articles which 
had taken the place of dishes, and blacking the 
Doctor's boots, I went to seek an interview with 
Mrs. B. I found her alone and told her who I 
was, but was obliged to give her satisfactory 
\)roofs of my identity before she was convinced 



SECRET EXPEDITION 111 

that I was the identical nurse with whom she had 
parted three days previously. 

My arrangements were soon made, and I was 
ready to start on my first secret expedition toward 
t!ie Confederate capital. Mrs. B. was pledged 
to secrecy with regard to her knowledge of 
*'Ned" and his mysterious disappearance. She 
was not permitted even to tell Mr. B. or Dr. E., 
and I believe she kept her j^ledge faithfully. With 
a few hard crackers in my pocket, and my revol- 
ver loaded and capped, I started on foot, without 
even a blanket or anything which might create 
suspicion. At half-past nine o'clock I passed 
through the outer picket line of the Union ai'my, 
at twelve o'clock I was within the rebel lines, and 
liad not so much as been halted once by a senti- 
nel. I had passed within less than ten rods of a 
rebel picket, and he had not seen me. I took this 
as a favorable omen, and thanked heaven for it. 

As soon as I had gone a safe distance from the 
picket lines I lay down and rested until morning. 
The night was chilly and the ground cold and 
damp, and I passed the weary hours in fear and 
trembling. The first object which met my view 
in the morning was a party of negroes carrying 
out hot coffee and provisions to the rebel pickets. 
This was another fortunate circumstance, for I im~ 
mediately made their acquaintance, and was re- 
warded for my promptness by receiving a cup of 
coffee and a piece of corn bread, which helped 



112 MADE TO WORK. 

very much to chase away the lingering chills of 
the preceding night. I remained there until the 
darkies returned, and then marched into York> 
town with them without eliciting the least sus- 
picion. 

The negroes went to work immediately on the 
fortifications after reporting to their overseers, and 
I was left standing alone, not having quite made 
up my mind wliat part to act next. I was saved 
all further trouble in that direction, for my idle- 
nens had attracted the ' notice of an officer, who 
stepped forward and began to interrogate me 
after the following manner : '' Vv^ho do you belong 
to, and why are you not at work?" I answered 
in my best negro dialect : '' 1 dusn't belong to no- 
l)ody, Massa, I'se free and allers was ; Tse gwyne 
to Richmond to work." But that availed me 
nothing;, for turniuix to a man w^ho was dressed in 
citizen's clothes and who seemed to be in charge 
of the colored department, he said : '^ Take that 
black rascal and set him to work, and if he don't 
work well tie him up and give him twenty lashes, 
just to impress upon his mind that there's no free 
niggers here Avhile there's a d — d Yankee left in 
Virginia." 

So saying he rode away, and I was conducted 
to a breast- work which was in course of erection, 
where about a hundred nesfroes were at work. I 
was soon furnished with a pickaxe, shovel, and a 
monstrous Avheelbarrow, and I commenced forth- 



A REBEL FOllTIFICATIOX. 113 

with to imitate my companions in bondage. That 
portion of the parapet upon which I was sent to 
work was about eight feet high. The gravel Avas 
wheeled up in wheelbarrows on single planks, one 
end of Avhich rested on the broAV of the breast- 
work and the other on the ground. I need not 
say that this work was exceedingly hard for the 
strongest man ; but few were able to take up their 
wheelbarrows alone, and I was often helped by 
some good natured darkie when I was just on the 
verge of tumbling off the plank. All day long I 
worked in this manner, until my hands were blis- 
tered from my wrists to the finger ends. 

The colored men's rations were different from 
those of the soldiers. Tliey had neither meat nor 
coffee, while the white men had both. Whiskey 
Avas freely distributed to both black and white, 
but not in sufficient quantity to unlit them for 
duty. The soldiers seemed to be as much in 
earnest as the officers, and could curse the Yan- 
kees with quite as much vehemence. Notwith- 
standing the hardships of the day I had had my 
eyes and ears open, and had gained more than 
would counterbalance the day's work. 

Night came, and I was released from toil. I 
was free to go where I pleased within the fortifi- 
cations, and I made good use of my liberty. I 
made out a brief report of the mounted guns 
which I saw that night in my ramble round the 

fort, viz. : fifteen three inch rifled cannon, eight- 
8 



114 AMONG THE SOLDIERS. 

een four and a half-inch rifled cannon, twenty- 
nine thirty-two pounders, twenty-one forty-two 
pounders, twenty-three eight-inch Columbiads, 
eleven nine-inch Dahlgrens, thirteen ten-inch Co- 
lumbiads, fourteen ten-inch mortars, and seven 
eiirht-inch sie":e howitzers. This, to2:ether with a 
rough sketch of the outer Avorks, I put under the 
inner sole of my contraband shoe and returned to 
the negro quarters. 

Finding my hands would not be in a condition 
to shovel much earth on the morrow, I began to 
look round among the negroes to hnd some one 
who would exchange places Avitli me whose duty 
Avas of a less arduous character. I succeeded in 
fmdins: ^ ^^^ of about mv own size who was en- 
gaged in carrying water to the troops. lie said 
he Avould take my place the next day. and he 
thought he could find a friend to do the same the 
day following, for which brotherly kindness I 
gave him five dollars in greenbacks ; but he de- 
clared he could not take so much money — '^he 
nebcr had so much money in all his life before." 
So by that operation I escaped the scrutiny of the 
overseer, which would probably have resulted in 
the detection of my assumed African complexion. 

The second day in the Confederate service was 
nmch pleasanter than the first. I had only to sup- 
ply one brigade with water, Avhich did not require 
much exertion, for the day was cool and the well 
vras not far distant ; consequently 1 had an oppor- 



A COUNCIL OF WAR. 115 

tunity of lounging a little among the soldiers, and 
of hearing important subjects discussed. In that 
way I learned the number of reinforcements which 
had arrived from different places, and also had the 
pleasure of seeing General Lee, who arrived while 
I was there. It was whispered among the men 
that he had been telegraphed to for the purpose 
of inspecting the Yankee fortifications, as he was 
the best engineer in the Confederacy, and that he 
had pronounced it impossible to hold Yorktown 
after McClellan opened his siege guns upon it. 
Then, too. General J. E. Johnson was hourly ex- 
pected with a portion of his command. Including 
all, the rebels estimated their force at one hundred 
and fifty thousand at Yorktown and in that 
vicinity. 

When Johnson arrived there was a council of 
war held, and things began to look gloomy. Then 
the report began to circulate that the town was to 
be evacuated. One thing I noticed in the rebel 
army, that they do not keep Iheir soldiers in the 
dark as our officers do with regard to the move- 
ments and destination of the troops. When an 
order comes to the Federal army requiring them 
to make some important movement, no person 
knows whether they are advancing or retreating 
until they get to Washington, or in sight of the 
enemy's guns, excepting two or three of the lead 
ing generals. 

Having a little spare time I visited my sable 



IIG TURNING WHITE AGAIN. 

friends and carried some water for them. After 
taking a draught of the cool beverage, one young 
darkie looked up at me in a puzzled sort of man- 
ner, and turning round to one of his companions, 
said : " Jim, Til be darned if that feller aint turnin' 
white; if he aint then I'm no nigger." I felt 
greatly alarmed at the remark, but said, very care- 
lessly, " Well, gem'in I'se allers 'spected to come 
white some time ; my mudder 's a Avhite woman." 
This had the desired effect, for they all laughed at 
my simplicity, and made no further remarks upon 
the subject. As soon as I could conveniently get 
out of sight I took a look at my complexion by 
means of a small pocket looking-glass which I car- 
ried for that very purpose — and sure enough, as 
the negro had said, I was really turning white. I 
was only a dark mulatto color now, whereas two 
days previous I was as black as Cloe. However, I 
had a small vial of nitrate of silver in weak solu- 
tion, which I applied to prevent the remaining 
color from coming off. 

Upon returning to my post with a fresh supply 
of water, I saw a group of soldiers gathered around 
some individual who was haranguing them in real 
Southern style. I went up quietly, put down my 
cans of water, and of course had to fill the men's 
canteens, which required consi(Jerable time, espe- 
cially as I was not in any particular hurry just 
then. I thought the voice sounded familiar, and 
\\[H)Y\ taking a !-ly look at the speaker T recognized 



A REBEL SPY. 117 

liim at once as a peddler who used to como to the 
Federal camp regularly once everj week with 
newspapers and stationery, and especially at head- 
quarters. He would hang round there, under 
some pretext or other, for half a day at a time 

There he was, giving the rebels a full descrip- 
tion of our camp and forces, and also brought out 
a map of the entire works of McClellan's position, 
lie wound up his discourse by saying : " They lost 
a splendid officer through my means since I have 
been gone this time. It was a pity though to kill 
such a man if he was a d — d Yankee." Then he 
went on to tell how he had been at he/id quarters, 
and heard ''Lieutenant Y." say that he was going 
to visit the picket line at such a time, and he had 
hastened away and informed the rebel sharpshoot- 
ers that one of the headquarter officers would be 
there at a certain time, and if they would charge 
on that portion of the line they might capture him 
and obtain some valuable information. Instead of 
this, however, they watched for his approach, and 
shot him as soon as he made his appearance. 

I thanked God for that information. I would 
willingly have wrought with those negroes on 
that parapet for two months, and have worn the 
skin off" my hands half a dozen times, to have 
gained that single item. He was a fated man 
from that moment ; his life was not worth three 
cents in Confederate scrip. But fortunately he did 
not know t^.e feelings that agitated the heart of 



118 ON PICKET DUTY. 

that little black urchin who sat there so quietly 
fillinor those canteens, and it was well that he 
did not. 

On the evening of the third day from the time 
I entered the camp of the enemy I a as sent, in 
company with the colored men, to carry supper to 
the outer picket posts on the right wing. This 
was just what I wished for, and had been making 
preparations during the day, in view of the possi- 
bility of such an event, providing, among other 
things, a canteen full of whiskey. Some of the 
men on picket duty were black and some were 
white. I had a great partiality for those of my 
own color, so calling out several darkies I spread 
before them some corn cake, and gave them a lit- 
tle whiskey for dessert. While we were thus en- 
gaged the Yankee Minnie balls were whistling 
round our heads, for the picket lines of the con- 
tending parties were not half a mile distant from 
each other. The rebel pickets do not remain 
together in groups of three or four as our 
men do, but are strung along, one in each place, 
from three to four rods apart. I proposed to re- 
main a while with the pickets, and the darkies 
returned to camp without me. 

Not long after night an officer came riding 
along the lines, and seeing me he inquired what I 
was doing there. One of the darkies replied that 
I had helped to carry out their supper, and was 
waiting until the Yankees stopped firing before I 



RETURN TO OUR LINES. 119 

started to go back. Turning to me he said, "You 
come along with me." I did as 1 was ordered, 
and he turned and went back the same way he 
came until we had gone about fifty rods, then 
halting in front of a petty officer he said, "Put 
this fellow on the post where that man was shot 
until I return." I was conducted a few rods ftir- 
ther, and then a rifle was put into my hands, which 
I was told to use freely in case 1 should see any* 
thing or anybody approaching from the enemy. 
Then followed the flattering remark, after taking 
me by the coat-collar and giving me a pretty hard 
shake, "Novr, you black rascal, if you sleep on 
your post I'll shoot you like a dog." " Oh no, 
Massa, Tse too fecrd to sleep," was my only reply. 
The night was very dark, and it was beginning 
to rain. I was all alone now, but how long before 
the ofTiccr might return with some one to fill my 
place I did not know, and I tliought the best thing 
I could do was to make good use of the present 
moment. After ascertaining as well as possible 
the position of the picket on each side of me, each 
of whom I found to be enjoying the shelter of the 
nearest tree, I deliberately and noiselessly stepped 
into the darkness, and was soon gliding swiftly 
through the forest toward the "land of the free," 
svith my splendid rifle grasped tightly lest I should 
lose the prize, I did not dare to approach very 
near the Federal lines, for I was in more danger 
of being shot by them than by the enemy ; so I 



120 IN UNIFORM. 

spent the remainder of the night within hailing 
distance of our lines, and with the first dawn of 
morning I hoisted the well known signal and was 
welcomed once more to a sight of the dear old 
stars and stripes. 

I went immediately to my tent. Mrs. B. was 
delighted at my return ; she was the only person 
in camp who knew me. Jack was sent to the 
quartermaster's with an order for a new suit of 
soldier's clothes. When he saw they were for me, 
on his return, he said: "Hi! dat darkie tinks 
he's some. Guess he don't cook no more for Massa 
Doct'r." After removing as much of the color as 
it was possible for soap and water to do, my com- 
plexion was a nice maroon color, which my new 
costume showed off to good advantage. Had my 
own mother seen me then, it would have been dif- 
ficult to convince her of our relationship, I made 
out my report immediately and carried it to Gen- 
eral McClellan's headquarters, together with my 
trophy from the land of traitors. I saw General 
G. B., but he did not recognize me, and ordered 
me to go and tell A. to appear before him in an 
hour from that time. I returned again to my tent, 
chalked my face, and dressed in the same style as 
on examination day, went at the hour appointed, 
and received the hearty congratulations of the 
General. The rifle was sent to Washington, and 
is now in the capitol as a memento of the war. 

Do my friends wish to know how I felt in such 



NELLIE AND DR. E. 121 

a position and in such a costume ? I will tell them. 
I felt just as happy and as comfortable as it was 
possible for any one to be under similar circum- 
stances. I am naturally fond of adventure, a lit- 
tle ambitious and a good deal romantic, and this 
together with my devotion to the Federal cause 
and determination to assist to the utmost of my 
ability in crushing the rebellion, made me forget 
the unpleasant items, and not only endure, but 
really enjoy, the privations connected with my 
perilous positions. Perhaps a spirit of adventure 
was important — but patriotism was the grand se- 
cret of my success. 

Being fatigued, and the palms of both my hands 
in raw flesh, I thought it best to wait a few days 
before setting out upon another adventure. 

While 1 was thus situated I made a point of 
becoming acquainted with Nellie, my rebel cap- 
tive. She was trying to make herself useful in the 
hospital, notwithstanding her hand was very pain- 
ful — often waiting upon those who were suftering 
less than she was herself Her pale, pensive face 
and widow's weeds seemed to possess peculiar at» 
tractions for Doctor E., and her hand wa| a bond 
of mutual sympathy between them, and afforded 
many pretexts for a half hour's conversation. 



CHAPTER IX. 

EVACUATION OF YORKTOWN OUR ARMY ON THE DOUBLE 

QUICK PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES THE ENEMy's WORKS 

A BATTLE ON THE FIELD A " WOUNDED," AND NOT IN- 
JURED COLONEL CARRYING THE WOUNDED FORT MAGRU- 

DER SILENCED THE VICTORY WON BURYING THE DEAD 

STORY OF A RING WOUNDED REBELS A BRAVE YOUNG 

SERGEANT CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS A SOLDIEr's DEATH-BED — - 

CLOSING SCENES LAST WORDS. 

THE next day the continuous roar of cannon all 
along the lines of the enemy was kept up in- 
cessantly. '' Nor did it cease at night, for when 
darkness settled over the encampment, from the 
ramparts that stretched away from York town 
there were constant gushes of flame, while the 
heavy thunder rolled far away in the gloom." A 
little after midnight the cannonading ceased, and 
a strange silence rested upon hill and valley. The 
first dawn of day which broke peacefully over the 
landscape discovered to the practiced eye of Pro- 
fessor Lowe that the entrenchments of the enemy 
were deserted; the rebels had abandoned their 
stronghold during the night and had fled toward 
Richmond. 

The news spread throughout the Federal army 
like lightning ; from right to left and from center 



PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES. 123 

to circumference the entire encampment was one 
wild scene of joy. Music and cheering were the 
first items in the programme, and then came the 
following order : '' Commandants of regiments will 
prepare to march with two days' rations, with the 
utmost dispatch. Leave, not to return." At about 
eight o'clock in the morning our advance guard 
entered Yorktown. There were nearly one hun- 
dred guns of different kinds and calibers and a 
large quantity of ammunition. The road over 
which the fugitive army passed during the night 
was beat up into mortar, knee deep, and was 
strewn with fragments of army wagons, tents and 
baggage. 

The Federal troops were in excellent spirits, 
and pushed on after the retreating army almost on 
the double quick. In this manner they kept up 
the pursuit until toward evening, when the caval- 
ry came up with the rear-guard of the enemy 
about two miles from Williamsburg, where a sharp 
skirmish followed. Night came on and firing 
ceased; the rebels were behind their entrench- 
ments, and our army bivouaced for the night. 
The cavalry and artillery forces were under com 
mand of General Stoneman; Generals Heintzel 
man. Hooker and Smith were in command of the 
advance column of infantry, while Generals Kear- 
ney, Couch and Casey brought up the rear. 

The enemy's works were four miles in extent, 
nearly three-fourths of their front being covered by 



124 A BATTLE. 

the tributaries of Queen's Creek and College Creek. 
The main works were a large fortification, called 
Fort Magruder, and twelve redoubts for field guns. 
The woods around and inside of those works were 
felled, and the ground was thickly dotted with 
rifle pits. The battle commenced the next morn- 
ing at half-past seven o'clock. General Hooker 
began the attack. The enemy were heavily rein- 
forced, and made a desperate resistance. Hooker 
lost a great number of men and five pieces of ar- 
tillery before Kearney, Couch or Casey came up. 
The roads were a perfect sea of mud, and now it 
was raining in torrents. The roar of battle sounded 
all along the lines ; the thunder of cannon and the 
crash of musketry reverberated through the woods 
and over the plain, assuring the advancing troops 
that their companions were engaged in deadly 
strife. 

The thick growth of heavy timber was felled in 
all directions, forming a splendid ambush for the 
rebel sharpshooters. The Federals moved forward 
in the direction of the enemy's works, steadily, 
firmly, through ditch and swamp, mud and mire, 
loading and firing as they went, and from every 
tree, bush and covert, which could conceal a man, 
the rebels poured a deadly fire into the ranks of 
our advancing troops. I was glad now that I had 
postponed my second visit to the enemy, for there 
was plenty of work for me to do here, as the 
ghastly faces of the wounded and dying testified. 



A HUMBUG COLONEL. 125 

I was subject to all kinds of orders. One moment 
I was ordered to the front \\ith a musket in my 
hands ; the next to mount a horse and carry an 
order to some general, and very often to take hold 
of a stretcher with some strong man and carry the 
wounded from the field. 

I remember one little incident in connection 
with my experience that day which I shall never 

forget, viz. : Colonel fell, and I ran to help 

put him on a stretcher and carry him to a place of 
safety, or where the surgeons were, which was 
more than I was able to do without overtaxing my 
strength, for he was a very heavy man. A poor 
little stripling of a soldier and myself carried him 
about a quarter of a mile through a terrific storm 
of bullets, and he groaning in a most piteous man- 
ner. We laid him down carefully at the surgeon's 
feet, and raised him tenderly from the stretcher, 
spread a blanket and laid him upon it, then lin- 
gered just a moment to see whether the wound 
was mortal. The surgeon commenced to examine 
the case ; there was no blood to indicate where 
the wound was, and the poor sufferer was in such 
agony that he could not tell where it was. So the 
surgeon examined by piecemeal until he had gone 
through with a thorough examination, and there 
was not even a scratch to be seen. Doctor E. 
straightened himself up and said, " Colonel, you 
are not wounded at all ; you had better let these 
boys carry you back again." The Colonel became 



126 CARRYING THE WOUNDED. 

indignant, and rose to his feet with the air of an 
insulted hero and said : '' Doctor, if I live to get 
out of this battle Til call you to account for those 
words;" to which Doctor E. replied with decision, 
" Sir, if you are not with your regiment in fifteen 
minutes I shall report you to General H." 

I turned and left the spot in disgust, mentally 
regretting that the lead or steel of the enemy had 
not entered the breast of one who seemed so am- 
bitious of the honor without the effect. As I re- 
turned to my post I made up my mind in future 
to ascertain whether a man was wounded or not 
before I did anything for him. The next I came 
to was Captain Wm. R. M., of the — Michigan. 
His leg was broken and shattered from the ankle 
to the knee. As we went to lift him on a stretch- 
er he said: "Just carry me out of range of the 
guns, and then go back and look after the boys. 

Mc and L. have fallen, and perhaps they are 

worse off than I am." Oh how glad I was to hear 
those words from his lips. It confirmed the opin- 
ion I had formed of him long before ; he was one 
of my first acquaintances in the army, and, though 
he was a strict disciplinarian, I had watched his 
christian deportment and kind and affectionate 
manner toward his men with admiration and in- 
terest. I believed him noble and brave, and those 
few words on the battle-field at such a moment 
spoke volumes for that faithful captain's heroism 
and love for his men. 



THE VICTORY WON. 127 

The battle was raging fiercely, the men were 
almost exhausted, the rebels were fighting like 
demons, and were driving our troops back step by 
step, while the space between the two lines was 
literally covered with dead and wounded men and 
horses. One tremendous shout from the Federals 
rent the air and fairly shook the earth. We all 
knew in an instant, as if by intuition, what called 
forth such wild cheers from that weary and almost 
overpowered army. '' Kearney! " was shouted en- 
thusiastically along the Federal lines, while the 
fresh troops were hurled like thunderbolts upon 
the foe. One battery after another was taken 
from the enemy, and charge after charge was 
made upon their works, until the tide of battle 
was turned. Fort Magruder silenced, and the stars 
and stripes were floating in triumph over the rebel 
works. 

The battle was won, and victory crowned the 
Union arms. The rebels were flying precipitately 
from the field, and showers of bullets thick as hail 
followed the retreating fugitives. Night closed 
around us, and a darkness which almost equaled 
that of ''Egypt" settled over the battle-field, and 
the pitiless rain came down in torrents, drenching 
alike the living and the dead. There lay upon 
that crimson field two thousand two hundred and 
twenty-eight of our own men, and more than that 
number of the enemy. It was indescribably sad 
to see our weary, exhausted men, with torches, 



128 BURYING THE DEAD, 

wading through mud to their knees piloting the 
ambulances over the field, lest they should trample 
upon the bodies of their fallen comrades. 

All night long we toiled in this manner, and 
when morning came still there were hundreds 
found upon the field. Those of the enemy were 
found in heaps, both dead and wounded piled to- 
gether in ravines, among the felled timber, and in 
rifle pits half covered with mud. Now the mourn- 
ful duty came of identifying and burying the 
dead. Oh, what a day was that in the history of 
my life, as well as of thousands both North and 
South. It makes me shudder now while 1 recall 
its scenes. 

To see those fair young forms 

Crushed by the war-horse tread, 
The dear and bleeding ones 

Stretched by the piled-up dead. 

Oh, war, cruel war ! Thou dost pierce the soul 
with untold sorrows, as well as thy bleeding vic- 
tims with death. How many joyous hopes and 
bright prospects hast thou blasted; and how 
many hearts and homes hast thou made desolate ! 
''As we think of the great wave of woe and mis- 
ery surging over the land, we could cry out in 
very bitterness of soul — Oh God! how long, how 
long!" 

The dead lay in long rows on the field, their 
ghastly faces hid from view by handkerchiefs or 
the capes of their overcoats, while the faithful sol- 



STORY OF A RING. 129 

diers were digging trenches in which to bury the 
mangled bodies of the skiin. I passed along the 
entire line and uncovered every face, in search of 
one who had given me a small package the day 
before when going into battle, telling me that if 
he should be killed to send it home ; and, said he, 
'' here is a ring on my finger Avhich 1 want you to 

send to . It has never been off my finger 

since she placed it there the morning I started for 
Washington. If I am killed please take it off and 
send it to her." I was now in search of him, but 
could find nothing of the missing one. At last I 
saw a group of men nearly half a mile distant, who 
also seemed to be engaged in burying the dead. 
I made my way toward them as fast as I could, 
but when I reached them the bodies had all been 
lowered into the trench, and they were already 
filling it up. 

1 begged them to let me go down and see if 
my friend was among the dead, to which the kind 
hearted boys consented. His body lay there par- 
tially covered with earth ; I uncovered his face ; 
he was so changed I should not have recognized 
him, but the ring told me that it was he. I tried 
with all my might to remove the ring, but could 
not. The fingers were so swollen that it was im- 
possible to get it ofl. In life it was a pledge of 
faithfulness from one he loved, "and in death they 
were not divided." 

The dead having been buried and the wounded 

9 



130 WOUNDED REBELS. 

removed to the churches and college buildings in 
Williamsburg, the fatigued troops sought repose. 
Upon visiting the wounded rebels I saw several 
whom I had met in Yorktown, among them the 
sergeant of the picket post who had given me a 
friendly shake and told me if I slept on my post 
he would shoot me like a dog. He was pretty 
badly wounded, and did not seem to remember 
me. A little farther on a young darkie lay groan- 
ing upon the floor. I went to look at him, and 
asked if I could do anything for him. I recog- 
nized in the distorted face before me the same 
darkie who had befriended me at Yorktown, and 
to whom I had offered the five dollar greenback. 
I assure my friends that I repaid that boy's kind- 
ness with double interest ; I told Doctor E. what 
he had done for me when my '^hands'' turned 
traitors. He was made an especial object of inter- 
est and care. 

Some few of the rebel prisoners were gentle- 
manly and intelligent, and their countenances be- 
tokened a high state of moral culture. Many were 
low, insolent, bloodthirsty creatures, wdio "neither 
feared God nor regarded man ; " while others 
there were who seemed not to know enough, to be 
either one thing or the other, but were simply 
living, breathing animals, subject to any order, 
and who would just as soon retreat as advance, so 
long as they did not have to fight. They did not 
care which way the battle went. On the whole 



A BRAVE SERGEANT. 131 

there was a vast contrast between the northern 
and southern soldiers as they appeared in the hos- 
pitals, but perhaps prejudice had something to do 
in making the rebels appear so much inferior to 
our men. 

In passing through the college building I no- 
ticed a young sergeant, a mere boy, who was shot 
in the temple. He attracted my attention, and I 
made some inquiry concerning him. He was a 
Federal, and belonged to the — Massachusetts 
regiment. An old soldier sitting by him told me 
the following: ''That boy is not sixteen yet; he 
enlisted as a private, and has, by his bravery and 
good conduct, earned the three stripes which you 
see on his arm. He fought all day yesterday like 
a young lion, leading charges again and again 
upon the enemy. After we lost our captain and 
lieutenants he took command of the company, and 
led it through the battle with the skill and cour- 
age of a young brigadier, until he fell stunned and 
bleeding. I carried him off the field, but could 
not tell whether he was dead or alive. I washed 
the blood from his face ; the cold water had a sab 
utary effect upon him, for when Hancock and 
Kearney had completed their work, and the 
cheers of victory rang over the bloody field, he 
was sufficiently revived to hear the inspiring tones 
of triumph. Leaping to his feet, faint and sick as 
he was, he took up the shout of victory in unison 
with the conquerers on the field. But he had 



132 CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. 

scarcely uttered the notes of victory and glory 
when his strength deserted him and he fell insen- 
sible to the ground." The old man added: ''Gen- 
eral says if he lives through this he will go 

into the next battle with shoulder straps on." I 
went up to him, took his feverish hand, and told 
him that I was glad that his wound was not mor- 
tal. He thanked me, and said with enthusiasm, 
''I would rather have been killed than to have lost 
the battle. 

There is one thing that I have noticed on the 
field in every battle that I have witnessed, viz. : 
that the christian man is the best soldier. Says a 
minister of the Gospel, writing upon this subject : 
'' It is a common saying among the officers that, as 
a class, the men who stand foremost when the bat- 
tle rages are the christian men. Many a time I 
have talked with them about such scenes, and 
they have told me that their souls have stood 
firm in that hour of strife, and that they have been 
perfectly calm. I have had christian generals tell 
me this. I have heard General Howard often say 
that in the midst of the most terrific portion of the 
battle, when his heart for a moment quailed, he 
would pause, and lift up his soul to God and re- 
ceive strength. "And," said he, ''I have gone 
through battles without a particle of fear. I have 
thought that God sent me to defend my country. 
T believed it was a christian duty to stand in the 
foremost of the fight, and why should I be afraid ?" 



A soldier's death-bed. 133 

1 once heard an eminently pious lady say that 
she never could reconcile the idea in her mind of 
a christian going into the army to fight ; it was so 
inconsistent with the christian character that she 
was tempted to doubt the piety of all fighting 
men. I respect the lady's views upon the sub- 
ject, but beg leave to differ from her ; for I be- 
lieve that a man can serve God just as acceptably 
in fighting the enemies of liberty, truth and right- 
eousness with the musket down South, as he can 
in the quiet pulpits of the North ; in fact I am in- 
clined to think he can do so a little more effectu- 
ally in the former place. I only wish that there 
were more of our holy men willing to take up the 
carnal weapons of warfare, forego the luxuries of 
home, and, by setting examples worthy of emula- 
tion, both in camp and on the battle field, thus 
strike a fatal blow at this unholy rebellion. 

The last night I spent in the hospital before 
leaving Williamsburg, I witnessed the death of a 
christian soldier, a perfect description of which I 
find in the ^'Memorials of the War:" "It was die 
hour of midnight, when the chaplain was sum- 
moned to the cot of a wounded soldier. He had 
only left him an hour before, with confident hopes 
of his speedy recovery — hopes which were shared 
by the surgeon and the wounded man himself 
But a sudden change had taken place, and the sur^ 
geon had come to say that the man could live but 
an hour or two at most, and to beg the chaplain 



134 CLOSING SCENES. 

to make the announcement to the dying man. He 
was soon at his side, but overpowered by his emo- 
tions, was utterly unable to deliver his message. 
Tlie dying man, however, quickly read the solemn 
truth in the altered looks of the chaplain, his fal- 
tering voice and ambiguous words. He had not 
before entertained a doubt of his recovery. He 
was expecting soon to see his mother, and with 
her kind nursing soon to be well. He was there- 
fore entirely unprepared for the announcement, 
and at first it was overwhelming. 

"'I am to die then; and — how long?' As he 
had before expressed hope in Christ, the chaplain 
replied: 'You have made your peace with God ; 
let death come as soon as it will, He will carry 
you safely over the river.' * 'Yes; but this is so 
awfully sudden, awfully sudden ! ' His lips quiv- 
ered ; he looked up grievingly : 'And I shall not 
see my mother.' ' Christ is better than a moth- 
er,' murmured the chaplain. 'Yes.' The word 
came in a whisper. His eyes were closed; the 
lips still wore that trembling grief, as if the chas- 
tisement were too sore, too hard to be borne ; but 
as the minutes passed, and the soul lifted itself up 
stronger and more steadily upon the wings of 
prayer, the countenance grew calmer, the lips 
steadier, and when the eyes opened again there 
was a light in their depths that could have come 
only from heaven. 

" ' 1 thank you for your courage,' he said more 



LAST WORDS. 135 

feebly, taking the chaplain's hand ; ^ the bitterness 
is over now, and I feel willing to die. Tell my 
mother' — he paused, gave one sob, dry, and full of 
the last anguish of earth — ' tell her how I longed 
to see her; but if God will permit me I will be 
near her. Tell her to comfort all who loved me ; 
to say that I thought of them al\. Tell my father 
that I am glad that he gave his consent. Tell my 
minister, by w^ord or letter, that I thought of him, 
and that I thank him for all his counsels. Tell 
him I find that Christ will not desert the passing 
soul, and that I wish him to give my testimony to 
the living, that nothing is of real worth but the 
religion of Jesus; and now, will you pray with 
me?' With swelling emotion and tender tones 
the chaplain besought God's grace and presence ; 
then, restraining his sobs, he bowed down and 
pressed upon the beautiful brow, already chilled 
with the breath of the coming angel, twice, thrice, 
a fervent kiss. They might have been as tokens 
from the father and mother, as well as for himself 
*' So thought, perhaps, the dying soldier, for a 
heavenly smile touched his face with new beauty, 
as he said, ' Thank you ; I won't trouble you any 
longer. You are wearied out; go to your rest.' 
' The Lord God be with you ! ' was the firm res- 
ponse. 'Amen,' trembled from the fast whitening- 
lips. Another hour passed, still the chaplain did 
not go to rest, but retired to an adjoining room ; 
he was about to return to the bedside of the dying 



136 TELL MY MOTHER. 

when the surgeon met him and whispered softly, 
'He is gone.' Christ's soldier had found the cap- 
tain of his salvation, and received his reward." 



Tell my mother, when you see her, 

That I {'ell amid the strife; 
And for freedom and my country 

I have given up my life-, 
Tei} her that I sent tliis message 

Ere my ton^ie refused to speak, 
And you tell her, comrade, won't you? 

Tell my mothe^not to weep. 

Tell her, comrade, how we battled 

For our country and the right i 
How I held the starry banner 

In the thickest of the fight; 
Tell her liow tliey struggled for it, 

And, with curses loud and deep, 
Took my bosom for their target — 

But tell her not to weep. 



Tell her I held up the banner 

'Mid the screaming shot and shell, 
Till the fatal leaden missile 

Pierced my side, and then I fell. 
Tell her I was ready, waiting. 

When my pulses ceased to beat, 
And I longed once more to see her— 

But you tell her not to vvetp. 

Tell her that the trutlis she taught me 

Nerved my arm and led my feet, 
And I trusted in the promise 

'Mid the battle's fiercest heat. 
Tell her, while my life was ebbmg, 

That I kissed her face so sweet — 
Kissed the picture that she gave me— 

And you tell her not to weep. 



CALL FOR REINFORCEMENTS. 137 

Tell her, comrade, when you see her, 

That my battlefields are o'er, 
And I've gone to join an army 

Where rebellion comes no more; 
Tell her that I hope to greet her, 

When together we shall meet, 
In that better home in heaven, 

Where we, never more shall weep. 



CHAPTER X. 

VC CLELLAn's despatch from EWELL S farm CALL FOR REIN-" 

FORCEMENTS NEWS FROM NORFOLK DESCRIPTION OF 7HE 

MERRIMAC THE ENGAGEMENT IN HAMPTON ROADS FIRST 

AND LAST FIGHT OF THE MERRIMAC VICTORY OF THE MONI- 
TOR ADVANCE ON THE PENINSULA- THE BATTLE SONG A 

MUDDY MARCH ON THE CHICKAHOMINY CRITICAL POSITION 

OF GENERAL BANKS THE PRESIDENT'S DESPATCHES MC- 

CLELLAn's REPLY. 

ON the tenth of May headquarters were estab- 
lished beyond Williamsburg, and conimanica- 
tions were opened between the forces moving by 
land and water. The following despatch was 
then sent by General McClellan to Secretary 
Stanton : 

*' Camp at E well's Farm, ^ 
" Three miles beyond Williamsburg, ^ 
'May 10th — 5 a. m. ) 
" From the information reaching me from every 
Kource, I regard it as certain that the enemy will 
meet us with all his force on or near the Chicka- 
hominy. They can concentrate many more men 



138 MCCLELLAN S DESPATCH. 

than I have, and are collecting troops from all 
quarters, especially well disciplined troops from 
the South. Casualties, sickness, garrisons and 
guards have much reduced our numbers, and will 
continue to do so. I shall fight the rebel army 
with whatever force I may have, but duty re- 
quires me to urge that every effort be made to 
reinforce me, without delay, with all the disposa- 
ble troops in Eastern Virginia, and that we con- 
centrate all our forces, as far as possible, to fight 
the great battle now impendmg, and to make it 
decisive. It is possible that the enemy may aban- 
don Richmond without a serious struggle, but I 
do not believe he will ; and it would be unwise to 
count upon anything but a stubborn and desperate 
defense — a life and death contest. I see no other 
hope for him than to fight this battle, and we must 
win it. I shall fight them whatever their force 
may be ; but I ask for every man that the depart- 
ment can send me. No troops should now be left 
unemployed. Those w^ho entertain the opinion 
that the rebels will abandon Richrmond wdthout a 
struggle are, in my judgment, badly advised, and 
do not comprehend their situation, which is one 
requiring desperate measures. I beg that the 
President and Secretary will maturely weigh what 
I say, and leave nothing undone to comply with 
my request. If I am not reinforced it is probable 
that I will be obliged to fight nearly double my 
numbers strongly entrenched." 



NEWS FROM NOllFOLK. 139 

Four days later he writes : 

" I will light the enemy, whatever their force 
may be, with whatever force I may have, and I 
believe that we shall beat them ; but our triumph 
should be made decisive and complete. The soldiers 
of this army love their Government, and will fight 
well in its support. You may rely upon them. 
They have confidence in me as their general, and 
in you as their President. Strong reinforcements 
will at least save the lives of many of them ; the 
greater our force the more perfect will be our com- 
binations, and the less our loss. For obvious rea- 
sons I beg you to give immediate consideration to 
this communication, and to inform me fully, at the 
earliest moment, of youriinal decision." 

A few days' rest after the fatigues of the battle, 
and the glorious news of the evacuation of Nor- 
folk and the total annihilation of the Merrimac, 
had a wonderful effect upon the spirits of our 
troops ; they seemed inspired with new courage 
and enthusiasm. Hitherto I have said nothing 
concerning that great bugbear, the Mcrrimac. 
Perhaps some of my " blue-nose" readers are not 
so well posted with regard to the origin and 
structure of this formidable rebel battery as the 
A'Tiericans are, and it may be interesting to some 
to listen to a brief description of it. 

"Upon the burning and evacuation of the Nor- 
folk Navy Yard the steam frigate Merrimac was 
scuttled and sunk, by order of Commodore Ma- 



140 THE MERRIMAC. 

caulay. This was one of the most magnificent 
ships in the American navy, being rated as a fortj- 
gun frigate, of four thousand tons burden. She 
Was built in Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1856, 
and was considered one of the finest specimens of 
naval architecture then afloat. She was two hun- 
dred and eighty-one feet long, fifty-two feet broad, 
and drew twenty-three feet of water. Her en- 
gines were of eight hundred horse power, driving 
a two-bladed propeller fourteen feet in diameter, 
and so adjusted as to be raised from the water 
when the vessel was driven by wind alone. Her 
armament consisted of twenty-four nine-inch shell 
guns, fourteen eight-inch, and two one hundred- 
pound pivot guns. This magnificent structure 
was raised by the rebels and cut down, leaving 
only the hull, which was exceedmgly massive and 
solid. Over this they constructed a sloping shield 
of railroad iron, firmly plaited together, and ex- 
tending two feet under the water. Its appearance 
was much like the slanting roof of a house set upon 
a ship's hull, like an extinguisher, the ends of the 
vessel, fore and aft, projecting a few feet beyond 
this roof. The gun-deck was completely inclosed 
by this shield, and nothing appeared above it but 
a short smoke-stack and two flag-staff's." 

An eye witness gives the following account of 
the first appearance and conflict of the Merrimac : 
''About noon of Saturday, the eighth of March, 
1862, this monster was seen coming around Cra- 



THE ENGAGEMENT. 141 

ney Island from Norfolk, accompanied by two 
other war vessels, the Jamestown and Yorktown, 
and quite a little fleet of armed tugs. The Merri- 
mac, with her imposing retinue in train, headed 
for Newport News, where there was a national 
garrison, guarded by the sailing frigates the Cum- 
berland, of one thousand seven hundred and 
twenty-six tons, and the Congress, of one thousand 
eight hundred and sixty-seven tons burden. The 
Merrimac steamed majestically along, as if con- 
scious of resistless strength, and as she passed the 
Congress discharged a single broadside into the 
doomed ship, and then, leaving her to the atten- 
tion of the Jamestown and Yorktown, made di- 
rectly for the Cumberland. When the Merrimac 
was within a hundred yards of the two frigates, 
they both discharged their tremendous broadsides 
against her armor. 

''The mailed monster qui s^ered a moment under 
the fearful concussion, but every ball glanced from 
her sloping shield like the wooden arrows of the 
Indian from the hide of the crocodile. Her ports 
were all closed. Not deigning to pay any atten- 
tion to the fierce but harmless assault of the two 
frigates, she rushed straight forward upon her 
prey. The formidable national battery at New- 
port News opened, with all its immense guns, at 
point-blank range, and these solid shot and shells 
also glanced harmlessly away. On rushed the si- 
lent Merrimac, with not a soul on borad to be 



142 FIGHT OF THE MERRIMAC. 

seen, liue as an arrow, and with all the power of 
her irresistible weight, plunged headlong with a 
fearful crash into the side of the helpless frigate. 
The iron prow of the assailant struck the Cumber- 
land amidships, crushing in her side with a mortal 
gash. Then, reversing her engine, and not even 
annoyed by the cannon balls rattling against her 
impervious mail, she retraced her steps a few rods 
for another butt. 

''As she drew back she turned her broadside to 
the wounded victim, and hurled into her bosom a 
merciless volley of shot and shells. The ponder- 
ous missiles tore through the crowded ship, hurling 
her massive guns about her decks, and scattering 
mutilated bodies in all directions. Again gather- 
ing headway, she crowded on all steam and made 
another plunge at the Cumberland. She struck 
directly upon the former wound, and crushed in 
the whole side of the ship as if it had been a lat- 
tice work of laths. 

" Timbers as strong as nature and art could 
make them, were snapped and crushed like dry 
twigs. As the sun went down, that night, over 
Hampton Roads, every Union heart in the fleet 
and in the fortress throbbed with despair. There 
was no gleam of hope. The Merrimac was im- 
pervious to balls, and could go where she pleased. 
In the morning it would be easy work for her to 
destroy our whole fleet. She could then shell 
Newport News and Fortress Monroe at her leisure, 



THE MONITOR VICTORIOUS. 143 

setting everything combustible in flames, and driv- 
ing every man from the gmis. 

'' ' That morrow ! How anxiously we waited for 
it ! how much we feared its results ! At sundown 
there was nothing to dispute the empire of the 
seas with the Merrimac, and had a land attack 
been made by Magruder then, God only knows 
what our fate would have been.' All at once a 
speck of light gleamed on the distant wave ; it 
moved ; it came nearer and nearer, and at ten 
o'clock that night the Monitor appeared. ' When 
the tale of brick is doubled, Moses comes.' I 
never more firmly believed in special providences 
than at thai hour. Even skept'cs were converted, 
and said, 'God has sent her.' But how insignifi- 
cant she looked ; she was but a speck on the dark 
blue wave at night, and almost a laughable object 
by day. The enemy call her a 'cheese-box on a 
raft,' and the comparison is a good one." But in- 
significant as she appeared, she saved the Union 
fleet, silenced the rebel monster, and eventually 
caused her to commit suicide. No wonder then 
that the news of the death of this formidable foe 
caused great rejoicing among the Union troops. 

Orders were issued to continue the advance up 
the Peninsula ; and as the jubilant troops were 
engaged in striking tents and making the neces- 
sary preparations consequent upon a hurried 
march, '' The Battle Song of the Republic " was 
being sung with enthusiasm throughout the en- 



x44 THE BATTLE SONG. 

campment by thousands of manly voices, and 
every loyal heart seemed inspired by the glorious 
sentiments which it contained. 

Mine eyes have seen tlie glory of the coming of the Lord ; 
He is trampling out the vintage where the grape of wrath is stored; 
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword ; 

His truth is marching on. 
Chorus — Glory, glory, hallelujah I 
Glory, glorj'-, hallelujah! 
Glory, glory, hallelujah I 
His truth is marching on. 

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; 
They have builded Him an altar in the evening's dews and damps; 
I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaming lamps; 

His day is marching on, etc. 

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel : 
As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal; 
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, 

Since God is marching on, etc. 

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; 
He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat ; 
0, be swift, my soul, to answer Him ! be jubilant, my feet ! 

Our God is marching on, etc. 

In tlie beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, 
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me : 
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, 

Wliile God is marching on, etc. 

The roads were so indescribably bad at this 
time that the army could make but little progress. 
1 remember it required thirty-six hours for one 
train to accomplish the distance of five miles. 
HoAvever, after several days wading through mud 
and water, the troops reached the White House, 



ON THE CHICKAHOMINY. 145 

where a portion of the army remained for a time, 
while the advance guards pushed on to the Chick- 
ahominy River, and established headquarters at 
Bottom's Bridge — its further progress being im- 
peded by the destruction of the bridge by the 
rebels, 

"The position of the troops were as follows 
Stoneman's advance-guard one mile from New 
Bridge ; Franklin's corps three miles from New 
Bridge, with Porter's corps in advancing distance 
in its rear ; Sumner's corps on the railroad, about 
three miles from the Chickahominy, connecting 
the right with the left ; Keyes' on New Kent road^ 
near Bottom's Bridge, with Heintzelman's corps 
at supporting distance in its rear " The ford was 
in possession of the federal troops, and a recon 
struction of the bridge was immediately com 
menced. 

On the 24th of May the two following despatches 
were received by Gen. McClellan from the Presi- 
dent : " I wish you to move cautiously and safely. 
You will have command of McDowell precisely as 
you indicated in your despatch to us." 

" In consequence of Gen. Banks' critical posl 
tion, I have been compelled to suspend Gen 
McDowell's movement to join you. The enemy 
are making a desperate push upon Harper's Ferry, 
and we are trying to throw Gen, Fremont's force^ 
ind part of Gen. McDowell's, in their rear ! ^' 

On the 25th, the President also sent thj follow 

10 



146 THE president's despatches. 

ing to McClellan : " The enemy is moving north 
in sufficient force to drive Gen. Banks before him; 
precisely in what force we cannot tell. He is also 
threatening Leesburg and Geary on the Manassas 
Gap Railroad, from north and south ; I think the 
movement is a general and concerted one — such 
as would not be if he was acting upon the purpose 
of a very desperate defense of Richmond. I think 
the time is near when you must either attack 
Richmond or give up the job, and come to the 
defense of Washington. Let me hear from you 
instantly." 

To which McClellan replied : " Telegram re- 
ceived. Independently of it, the time is very near 
when I shall attack Richmond. The object of the 
movement is probably to prevent reinforcements 
being sent to me. All the information obtained 
agree in the statement that the mass of the rebel 
troops are still in the vicinity of Richmond. I 
have no knowledge of Banks^ position and force, 
nor what there is at Manassas ; therefore cannot 
form a definite opinion as to the forces against 
him. I have two corps across Chickahominy, 
within six miles of Richmond ; the others on this 
side at other crossings, within same distance, and 
"eady to cross when bridges are completed." 



CHAPTER XL 

ANOTHER DISGUISE 1 BECOME AN IRISH PEDDLER FEVER AND 

AGUE A NIGHT OF SUFFERING IN THE SWAMP RETROSPEC- 
TION LOST IN THE SWAMP CANNON MY GUIDES A SICK 

REBEL 1 FIND SOMETHING TO EAT MY NEW PATIENT 

SYMPATHY FOR SUFFERING TALK WITH A DYING REBEL 

A WILLING DETENTION EXTEMPORIZING A LIGHT THE LAST 

HOUR SOLDIERS OF CHRIST THE CHAMBER OF DEATH. 

WHILE all these preparations were going for- 
ward, I was meditating another visit to the 
rebel camp. It was not safe for me to attempt to 
palm myself off again on the rebels as a colored 
boy. In the first place, I should be in danger of 
being recognized as the cowardly picket who de- 
serted his post — a crime worthy of death ; and in 
the next place, I should be in imminent danger 
of blistering my hands again — a thing which I felt 
particularly anxious to avoid, especially in per- 
forming labor that would enable the enemy more 
successfully to ri3pel the attacks of the Federals. 
Now a new disguise was necessary, and I decided 
to abandon the iVfrican relation, and assume that 
of the Hibernian. Having had this in view before 
leaving Williamsburg, I procured the dress and 
outfit of an Irish female peddler, following the 
army, selling cakes, pies, etc., together with a 



148 ANOTHER DISGUISE. 

considerable amount of brogue, and a set of Irish 
phrases, which did much toward characterizing 
me as one of the " rale ould stock of bog-trotters." 

The bridges were not finished across the Chick- 
ahominy when I was ready to cross the river, so I 
packed up my new disguise in my cake and pie 
basket, and my horse, " Frank," and I took a bath 
m the cool water of the Chickahominy. After 
swimming my noble steed across the river, I dis- 
mounted, and led him to the edge of the water — - 
gave him a farewell pat, and let him swim back 
again to the other side, where a soldier awaited 
his return. It was now evening ; I did not know 
the precise distance to the enemy's picket line, 
but thought it best to avoid the roads, and conse- 
quently I must spend the night in the swamp, as 
the only safe retreat. It required some little time 
to don my new disguise, and feel at home in the 
clothes. I thought the best place for my debut 
was the ''Chickahominy swamp." I did not pur 
pose, this time, to pass the enemy's lines in the 
night, but to present myself at the picket line, at 
a seasonable hour, and ask admission as one of the 
fugitives of that section flying from the approach 
of the Yankees, which was a usual thing. 

In crossing the river I had my basket strapped 
on my back, and did not know that all it contained 
was completely drenched, until I required to use 
its contents. It was, therefore, Avith feelings of 
dread and disappointment that I discovered this 



FEVER AND AGUE. ' 149 

sad fact, for I had been suiFering from slight ague 
chills during the day, and feared the consequences 
of spending the night in wet clothing, especially 
in that malaria -infested region. However, there 
was no alternative, and I was oblis^ed to make the 
best of it. I had brought a patch-work quilt with 
me from the hospital, but that, too, was wet. Yet 
it kept off some of the chill night air, and the 
miasmatic breath of that "dismal swamp.'^ The 
remembrance of the sufferings of that night seem 
to be written upon my memory "as with a pen 
of iron." There I was, all alone, surrounded by 
worse, yes, infmitely worse, than wild beasts — by 
blood-thirsty savages — who considered death far 
too good for those who were in the employment 
of the United States Government. 

That night I was attacked by severe chills — 
chills beyond description, or even conception, ex- 
cept by those who have experienced the freezing 
sensation of a genuine ague chill. During the lat 
ter part of the night the other extreme presented 
itself, and it seemed as if I should roast alive, and 
not a single drop of water to cool my parched 
tongue ; it was enough to make any one think of 
the "rich man" of the Bible, and in sympathy 
with his feelings cry to "Father Abraham" for 
assistance. My mind began to wander, and I be- 
came quite delirious. There seemed to be the 
horrors of a thousand deaths concentrated around 
me ; I was tortured by fiends of every conceivable 



150 RETROSPECTION. 

shape and magnitude. Oh, how it makes me 
shudder to recall the scenes which my imagina- 
tion conjured up during those dark weary hours! 
Morning at last came, and I was aroused from the 
horrible night-mare which had paralyzed my senses 
through the night, by the roor of cannon and the 
screaming of shell through the forest. 

But there I was, helpless as an infant, equally 
unable to advance or retreat, without friend or foe 
to molest or console me, and nothing even to 
amuse me but my own thoughts. I looked upon 
the surrounding scenery, and pronounced it very 
unromantic; then my eye fell upon my Irish cos- 
tume, and I began to remember the fine phrases 
which I had taken so much pains to learn, when 
the perfect absurdity of my position rushed over 
my mind with overwhelming force, and the ludi- 
crousness of it made me, for the moment, forget 
my lamentable condition, and with one uncontroll- 
able burst of laughter I made that swamp resound 
in a manner which would have done credit to a 
person under happier circumstances, and in a bet- 
ter state of health. 

That mood soon passed away, and I began a 
retrospection of my past life. It certainly had 
been an eventful one. I took great mterest in 
carefully tracing each link in the chain of circum- 
stances which had brought me to the spot whereon 
I now lay, deserted and alone, in that notorious 
Chickahominy swamp. And ere I was aware of 



I 



LOST IN THE SWAMP. 151 

it, I was sighing over a few episodes m my past 
history— and mentally saying, well, only for this 
intense love of adventure, such and such things 
" might have been," and I should now be rejoicing 

in the honorable title of — , instead of 

^'wasting my sweetness on the desert air," in the 
wilderness of the Peninsula. 

Of all the sad words, of tongue or of pen, 
The saddest arc these — "i/ mvjld have bean" 

The cannonading was only the result of a recon- 
noissance, and in a few hours ceased altogether. 
But not so my fever and chills ; they were my 
constant companions for two days and two nights 
in succession. At the end of that time I was an 
object of pity. With no medicine, no food, and 
consequently little strength ; I was nearly in a state 
of starvation. My j)ies and cakes were spoiled in 
the basket, in consequence of the drenching they 
had received in crossing the river, and now I had 
no meann of procuring more. But something 
must be done ; I could not bear the thought of 
thus starring to death in that inglorious manner; 
better dii; upon the scaffold at Richmond, or be 
shot by ;he rebel pickets ; anything but this. So 
I thougl I and said, as I rallied all my remaining 
strength to arrange my toilette preparatory t3 
emerging from my concealment in the swamp. 

It was about nine o'clock in the morning of the 
third day after crossing the river, when I started, 



152 ASICKREBEf* 

as I thought, towards the enemy's hnes, and a 
more broken-hearted, forlorn-looking '' Bridget " 
never left '' ould Ireland,'' than I appeared to be 
that morning. I traveled from that time uniil five 
o'clock in the afternoon, and was then deeper in 
the swamp than when I started. My head or 
brain was completv"^ly turned. I knew not which 
way to go, nor did I know east from west, or 
north from south. 

It was a dark day in every sense of the word — 
and I had neither sun nor compass to guide me. 
At five o'clock the glorious booming of cannon 
reverberated through the dense wilderness, and 
to me, at that hour, it was the sweetest and most 
soul-inspiring music that ever greeted my ear. I 
now turned my face in the direction of the scene 
of action, and was not long in extricating myself 
from the desert which had so long enveloped me. 

Soon after emerging from the swamp I saw, in 
the distance, a small white house, and thither I 
bent my weary footsteps. I found it deserted, 
with the exception of a sick rebel soldier, who lay 
upon a straw-tick on the floor in a helpless condi- 
tion. I went to him, and assuming the Irish 
brogue, I inquired how he came to be left alone, 
and if I could render him any assistance. He 
could only speak in a low whisper, and with much 
difficulty, said he had been ill with typhoid 
fever a few weeks before, and had not fully re- 
covered when General Stoneman attacked the 



SOMETHING TO EAT. 153 

rebels in the vicinity of Coal Harbor, and he was 
ordered to join his company. He participated in 
a sharp skirmish, in which the rebels were obliged 
to retreat ; but he fell out by the way, and fearing 
to fall into the hands of the Yankees, he had 
crawled along as best he could, sometimes on his 
hands and knees, until he reached the house in 
which I found him. 

He had not eaten anything since leaving camp, 
and he was truly in a starving condition. I did 
not dare say to him "ditto" — with regard to poor 
''Bridget's'' case^but thought so, and realized it 
most painfully. He also told me that the family 
who had occupied the house had abandoned it 
since he came there, and that they had left some 
flour and corn-meal, but had not time to cook any- 
thing for him. This was good news for me, and 
exhausted as I was, I soon kindled a fircf, and in 
less than fifteen minutes a large hoe-cake was be- 
fore it in process of baking, and a sauce-pan of 
water heating, for there was no kettle to be found 
After searching about the premises, I found some 
tea packed away in a small basket, with some 
earthearn ware, which the family had forgotten 
to take with them. My cake being cooked, and 
tea made, I fed the poor famished rebel as ten- 
derly as if he had been my brother, and he seemed 
as grateful for my kindness, and thanked me with 
as much politeness, as if I had been Mrs. Jeff Da- 
vis The next important item was to attend to 



154 



SYMPATHY FOR SUFFERING. 



the cravings of my own appetite, which I did 
without much ceremony. 

After making my toilet and adjusting my wig 
in the most approved Irish style, I approached the 
sick man, and for the first time noticed his fea- 
tures and general appearance. He was a man 
about thirty years of age, was tall and had a slight 
figure, regular features, dark hair and large, 
mournful, hazel eyes ; altogether he was a very 
pleasing and intelligent looking man. I thought 
him quite an interesting patient, and if I had had 
nothing more important to attend to, I should 
have enjoyed the privilege of caring for him until 
he recovered. It is strange how sickness and 
disease disarm our antipathy and remove our pre- 
judices. There lay before me an enemy to the 
Government for which I was daily and willingly 
exposing my life and suffering unspeakable priva- 
tion ; he may have been the very man who took 
deadly aim at my friend and sent the cruel bullet 
through his temple ; and yet, as I looked upon 
him in his helpless condition, I did not feel the 
least resentment, or entertain an unkind thought 
toward him personally, but looked upon him only 
as an unfortunate, suffering man, whose sad condi- 
tion called forth the best feelings of my nature, 
and I longed to restore him to health and strength ; 
not considering that the very health and strength 
which I wished to secure for him would be em- 
ployed against the cause which I had espoused. 



A DYING REBEL. 155 

I had a great desire to know more of this man 
who had so strangely called forth my sympathies, 
and finding that he had grown stronger since he 
had partaken of some nourishment, I entered into 
conversation with him. I found that he was wholly 
and conscientiously a Confederate soldier, but, 
strange to say, completely divested of that invet- 
erate hatred of the Yankees which is almost uni- 
versal among the Southerners. I dared not ex- 
press my sentiments in very strong terms, but 
gently interrogated him with regard to the right 
which he claimed the rebels had to take up arms 
as^ainst the United States Government. 

At length I asked him if he professed to be a 
Soldier of the Cross ; he replied with emotion and 
enthusiasm,, ''Yes, thank God! I have fought 
longer under the Captain of my Salvation than 
I have yet done under Jeff. Davis." My next and 
last question upon that subject was — " Can you, as 
a disciple of Christ, conscientiously and consist- 
ently uphold the institution of Slavery?" He 
made no reply, but fixed those mournful eyes on 
my face with a sad expression, as much as to say — 
''Ah, Bridget, you have touched a point upon 
which my own heart condemns me, and I know 
that God is greater than my heart, and will also 
condemn me." 

In this earnest conversation I had unconsciously 
forgotten much of my Hibernian accent, and I 
thought that the sick man began to suspect that I 



156 A WILLING DETENTION. 

was not what my appearance indicated. It alarmed 
me for a moment, but I soon recovered my com- 
posure after stepping forward and examining his 
pulse, for he was fast sinking, and the little strength 
which he seemed to have a short time before 
was nearly exhausted. After studying my coun- 
tenance a few moments he asked me to pray with 
him. I did not dare to refuse the dying man's re- 
quest, nor did I dare to approach my Maker in an 
assumed tone of voice ; so I knelt down beside 
him, and in my own natural voice breathed a brief 
and earnest prayer for the departing soldier, for 
grace to sustain him in that trying hour, and finally 
for the triumph of truth and right. 

When I arose from my knees he grasped my 
hand eagerly and said : '' Please tell me who you 
are. I cannot, if I would, betray you, for I shall 
very soon be standing before that God whom you 
have just addressed." I could not tell him the 
truth and I would not tell him a falsehood, so I 
evaded a direct reply, but promised that when he 
became stronger I would tell him my history. He 
smiled languidly and closed his eyes, as much as 
to say that he understood me. 

It was now growing late. I was not far from 
the rebel lines, but was not able to successfully act 
a part in my present debilitated condition, and 
besides, I was glad that I could consistently re- 
main over night with that poor dying man, rebel 
though he was. I began to look around for some- 



THE LAST HOUR. 157 

tiling which I might convert into a light, but did 
not succeed in finding anything better than a 
piece of salt pork, which I fried, pouring the fjit 
into a dish in which I put a cotton rag, and then 
lighting the end of the rag I found I had secured 
quite a respectable light. After making some 
corn-meal gruel for my patient, I took care to 
fasten the doors and windows so that no one could 
enter the house without my knowledge, and 
screened the windows so that no light might at- 
tract the rebel scouts. 

Thus with a sort of feeling of security I took 
my seat beside the sick man. The dews of death 
were already gathering on his pallid brow. I took 
his hand in mine, examined his pulse again, and 
wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead. 
Oh how those beautiful eyes thanked me for these 
little acts of kindness ! He felt in his heart that I 
did not sympathize with him as a rebel, but that I 
was willing to do all that a sister could do for him 
in this hour of trial. This seemed to call forth 
more gratitude than if I had been heart and hand 
with the South. He looked up suddenly and saw 
me weeping — for I could not restrain my tears — • 
he seemed then to understand that he was really 
dying. Looking a little startled he exclaimed — 
"Am I really dying? " 

Oh, how often have I been obliged to answer 
that awful question in the affirmative ! " Yes, you 
are dying, my friend. Is your peace made with 



158 SOLDIERS OF CHRIST. 

God?" He replied, "My trust is in Christ; He 
was mine in life, and in death He will not forsake 
me " — almost the very words I heard a dying Fed- 
eral soldier say, a few days before, at the hospital 
in Williamsburg. A few weeks previous these 
two men had been arrayed against each other in 
deadly strife ; yet they were brethren ; their faith 
and hope were the same ; they both trusted in the 
same Saviour for salvation. 

Then he said, '' I have a last request to make. 
If you ever pass through the Confederate camp 
between this and Richmond inquire for Major 
McKee, of General Ewell's staff, and give him a 
gold watch which you will find in my pocket ; he 
will know what to do with it ; and tell him I died 
happy, peacefully." He then told me his name 
and the regiment to which he had belonged. His 
name was Allen Hall. Taking a ring from his 
finger he tried to put it on mine, but his strength 
failed, and after a pause he said, "Keep that ring 
in memory of one whose sufferings you have alle- 
viated, and whose soul has been refreshed by your 
prayers in the hour of dissolution." Then folding 
his hands together as a little child would do at its 
mother's knee, he smiled a mute invitation for 
prayer. After a few moments' agonizing prayer 
in behalf of that departing spirit, the dying man 
raised himself up in the bed and cried out with his 
dying breath, "Glory to God! Glory to God! I 
am almost home ! " 



THE CHAMBER OF DEATH. 159 

He was almost gone. I gave him some water, 
raised the window, and using my hat for a fan, I 
sat down and watched the last glimmering spark 
of light go out from those beautiful windows of 
the soul. Putting his hand in mine he signed to 
me to raise his head in my arms. I did so, and 
in a few moments he ceased to breathe. 

He died about twelve o'clock — his hand clasp- 
ing mine in the painful grip of death, my arm 
supporting him, and his head leaning on my bosom 
like a wearied child. I laid him down, closed his 
eyes, and straightened his rigid limbs ; then fold- 
ing his hands across his breast, I drew his blanket 
close around him and left him in the silent em- 
brace of death. The beautiful, calm expression of 
his face made me think he looked 

Like one who wraps tlie drapery of his couch 
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams. 

This was rather a strange position for me to 
occupy at midnight — alone with death ! Yet I 
thanked God that it was my privilege to be there; 
and I thanked Him for the religion of Jesus which 
was the strength of my heart in that trying hour. 
Yes, I could then rejoice in the providence which 
had detained me in the Chickahominy swamp, and 
had thus brought me to the bedside of that suffer- 
ing stranger. Profound silence reigned supreme, 
and there was naught to chase away the darkness 
of that gloomy midnight hour save the conscious- 
ness that God was there. 



160 MY REFLECTIONS. 

I felt it good thus to be drawn rwrj from the 
tumult of war, and there, in the presence of tho 
angel of death, hold communion with my own 
heart and drink deep from the well of holy medi- 
tation. T thought there were happy spirits hover- 
ing round the lifeless form of him who was so 
lovable in life and lovely in death. Yes, I imagined 
the shining host had returned from escorting the 
triumphant spirit to the Throne of God, and were 
now watching the beautiful casket which had en- 
cased the bright spirit whose companionship had 
made some southern home bright and joyous. 

I thought, too, of the loved ones who had gone 
and left me to finish my journey alone, and who 
would soon come to bear me away to that bright 
eternal world, if I only proved faithful unto death. 
" How impressively sad, how thrillingly beautiful, 
the lesson we glean from this silent spirit commu- 
nion ! Our physical nature starts and shudders at 
the thought of joining the silent numbers of the 
dead ; but our spiritual nature catches a glimpse 
of that spirit-life beyond the portals of the tomb, 
where life, pure, free and joyous, shall be ours." 

A lesson sad, but fraught with good — 
A tearful one, but strengthen hig food— 

Thou glvest me; 
We learn that " dust returns to dust," 
Anew in God we put our trust, 

And bow the kuee. 



CHAPTER XII. 

iM I A STOIC ^ someone's DARLING COMPLETIXG MY DIS- 
GUISE ANOTHER START FOR THE REBEL LINES PEPPERING 

MY EYES CHALLENGED BY A PICKET A COCKNEY SENTINEL 

GETTING INFORMATION PLENTY OF BEEF, BUT NO SALT 

RICE AND CORN MEAL BREAD PREPARING TO VISIT HEAD 

QUARTERS INTERVIEW WITH MAJOR MC KEE — THE MAJOr's 

MISPLACED CONFIDENCE RETURN FOR THE BODY OF THE 

REBEL CAPTAIN MY LOOK-OUT FOR \ ANKEES NEW OKDERS. 

PERHAPS some of my readers will pronounce 
me a stoic, entirely devoid of feeling, when I 
tell them that two hours after I wrapped the un- 
conscious form of my late patient in his winding- 
sheet, 1 enveloped myself in my patchwork quilt, 
and laid me down not far from the corpse, and 
slept soundly until six o'clock in the morning. 
Feeling much refreshed I arose, and after spend- 
ing a few moments by the side of my silent 
companion, contemplating the changes which the 
King of Terrors had wrought, I cut a lock of hair 
from his temple, took the watch and a small pack- 
age of letters from his pocket, replaced the blank- 
et revenmtly, and bade him farewell. 

Kiss him once f ^r somebody's sake 

Murmur a praj'er soft and low, 
One bright curl from its dark mates take, 

They wer: somebody's pride, you know -. 
11 



162 SOMEBODY S DARLING. 

Somebody's hand hath rested there — 

"Was it a mother's, soft and white ? 
And have the hps of a sister fair 

Been baptized in their waves of hght? 

God knows best! He was sombebody's lovej 

Somebody's heart enshrined 5iim there; 
Somebody wafted liis name above, 

Niglit and morn, on tlie wings of prayer. 
Somebody wept wlien lie marched away, 

Looking so handsome, brave and grand; 
Somebody's kiss on liis forehead lay, 

Somebody clmig to his parting hand. 

Somebody 's waiting and watching for him, 

Yearning to hold him again to her heart; 
And there he iies with his dark eyes dim. 

And the smiling, childlike lips apart. 
Tenderly bury the fair young dead, 

Pausing to drop in his grave a tear ; 
Carve on the wooden slab at liis head 

" Somebody's darling slumbers here." 

After hastily partaking of a slight repast, which 
I could scarcely term breakfast, I commenced im- 
mediate preparations to leave the house. Upon 
examining the basket in which I had found the 
tea on my arrival, I found a number of articles 
which assisted me much in assuming a more per- 
fect disguise. There was mustard, pepper, an old 
pair of green spectacles, and a bottle of red ink. 
Of the mustard I made a strong plaster about the 
size of a dollar, and tied it on one side of my face 
mi til it blistered it thoroughly. I then cut off the 
blister and put on a large patch of black court- 
plaster ; with the ink I painted a red hne around 
my eyes, and after giving my pale complexion a 



COMPLETING MY DISGUISE. 163 

deep tinge with some ochre Avhich I found in a 
closet, I put on my green glasses and my Irish 
hood, which came over my face about six inches. 

I then made the tour of the house from garret 
to cellar, to find all the household fixings which 
an Irishwoman would be supposed to carry with 
her in such an emergency — for I expected to 
be searched before I was admitted through the 
the lines. I packed both my baskets, for I had 
two now, and was ready for another start. But 
before leaving I thought best to bury my pistol 
and every article in my possession which could in 
any way induce suspicion. Then taking a farewell 
look at the beautiful features of the dead, I left 
the house, going directly the nearest road to the 
rebel picket line. I felt perfectly safe in doing 
so, for the rebel soldier's watch was a sufficient 
passport in daylight, and a message for Major 
McKee would insure me civility at least. 

I followed the Richmond road about five miles 
before meeting or seeing any one. At length I 
saw a sentinel in the distance, but before he ob- 
served me I sat down to rest and prepare my 
mind for the coming interview. While thus wait- 
ing to have my courage reinforced, I took from 
my basket the black pepper and sprinkled a little 
of it on my pocket handkerchief, which I applied 
to my eyes. The effect was all I could have de- 
sired, for taking a view of my prepossessing coun- 
tenance in the small mirror which I always carried 



1G4 A COCKNEY SENTINEL. 

with me, I perceived that my eyes had a fine ten- 
der expression, which added very much to the 
beauty of their red borders. I was reminded of 
poor Leah of old who failed to secure the affection 
of her husband in consequence of a similar blem- 
ish, and thought myself safe from the slightest ap- 
proach to admiration on the part of the chivalry. 

I now resumed my journey, and displayed a fl^g 
of truce, a piece of a cotton window curtain which 
I brought from the house at which I had stopped 
over night. As I came nearer the picket-guard 
signaled to me to advance, which I did as fast as 
I could under the circumstances, being encum- 
bered with two heavy baskets packed full of earth- 
enware, clothing, quilts, etc. Upon coming up to 
the guard, instead of being dismayed at his for- 
midable appearance, I felt rejoiced, for there stood 
before me an immense specimen of a jolly English- 
man, with* a bland smile on his good-natured face, 
provoked, I presume, by the supremely ludicrous 
figure I presented. 

He mildly questioned me with regard to my 
hopes and fears, whence I came and whither I was 
going, and if I had seen any Yankees. My sor- 
rowful story was soon told. My peppery hand- 
kerchief was freely applied to my eyes, and the 
tears ran doAvn my face without the least effort 
on my part. The good-natured guard's sympathy 
was excited, more especially as I was a foreigner 
like himself, and he told me I could pass along 



GETTING INFORMATION. 165 

and go just wherever I pleased, so far as he was 
concerned, adding in a sad tone, "I wish I was 
hat 'ome with my family, hand then Jeff. Davis 
hand the Confederacy might go to 'ell for hall me. 
Hinglishmen 'ave no business 'ere." 

I mentally exclaimed, '' Good for you — you are 
one after my own heart," but I replied to the Eng- 
lishman's patriotic speech after the following man- 
ner : " Och, indade I wish yez was all at home wid 
yer families, barrin them as have no families ; an 
sure its we poor craythurs of wimen that's heart- 
broken intirely, an fairly kilt wid this onnathral 
Avar;" and here my eyes were again carefully 
wiped with my handkerchief 

After thanking the picket-guard for his kind- 
ness, I went on my way toward the rebel camp. 
I had not gone far when the guard called me back 
and advised me not to stay in camp over night, 
for, said he, '' One of our spies has just come in 
and reported that the Yankees have finished the 
bridges across the Chickahominy, and intend to 
attack us either to-day or to-night, but Jackson 
and Lee are ready for them." He went on to tell 
me how many masked batteries they had prepared, 
and said he, ^' There is one," pointing to a brush- 
heap by the roadside, "that will give them fits if 
they come this way." 

Feeling somewhat in a hurry, I started once 
more for camp. I concluded after getting through 
the lines that I could dispense with oaeof my bas- 



1G6 RICE AND CORN MEAL BREAD. 

kets, so setting one of them down under a tree T 
felt much more comfortable, and was not quite so 
conspicuous an object going into camp. I went 
directly to headquarters and inquired for Major 
McKee. I was told that he would not be there 
before evening, and my informant drawled out 
after me, '' He 's gone to set a trap for the d — d 
Yankees." 

I made up my mind at once that I must 
find out as much as possible before night, and 
make my way back before the impending battle 
came on. Upon looking around the camp I saw 
a shanty where some negro women were cooking 
meat. I went and told them that I was hun- 
gry and would like to have something to eat. 
'' Oh yes, honey, we'se got lots o' meat and bread, 
but haint got no salt ; but reckon ye can eat it 
without." So saying an old auntie brought me a 
piece of boiled fresh beef and some bread ; but I 
could not make out what the bread was made of; 
as near as I could guess, however, it was made of 
boiled rice and corn-meal, and that also was with- 
out salt. 

I thought it would be well to look a little 
smarter before I presented myself at headquarters 
again, lest I might not meet with that confidence 
which I felt it was important for me to secure. 
My patched and painted face made it impossible 
for any one to define the expression of my coun- 
tenance. My blistered cheek was becoming very 



INTERVIEW WITH THE MAJOR. 167 

painful in conse ^uence of the drawing of the court- 
plaster. I took off my glasses and bathed my face 
in clear, cold water, which did not remove much 
of the color, but made me a shade more like my- 
self; then I succeeded in getting one of the col- 
ored women to go to the doctor's quarters and get 
me some unguent, or simple cerate, with which I 
dressed the blister. My eyes were sufficiently dis- 
figured by this time to dispense with the glasses, 
so putting them in my basket I laid them aside for 
another occasion. There was no difficulty in find- 
ing out the force of the enemy or their plans for 
the coming battle, for every one, men and women, 
seemed to think and talk of nothing else. 

Five o'clock came, and with it Mai or McKee. 
I lost no time in presenting myself before his 
majorship, and with a profound Irish courtesy I 
made known my business, and delivered the watch 
and package. I did not require any black pepper 
now to assist the lachrymal glands in performing 
their duty, for the sad mementoes which I had 
just delivered to the major so forcibly reminded 
me of the scenes of the past night that I could not 
refrain from weeping. The major, rough and 
stern as he was, sat there with his face between 
his hands and sobbed like a child. Soon he rose 
to his feet, surveyed me fro^_i head to foot, and 
said, " You are a faithful woman, and you shall be 
rewarded." 

He then asked : " Can you go direct to that 



168 MISPLACED CONFIDENCE. 

house, and show my men where Allen's body is?" 
I answered in the affirmative — whereupon he 
handed me a ten dollar Federal bill, saying, as he 
did so : " If you succeed in finding the house, I 
will give you as much more.'' I thanked him, 
but positively declined taking the money. He 
did not seem to understand the philosophy of a 
person in my circumstances refusing money, and 
when I looked at him again his face wore a doubt- 
ful, puzzled expression, which alarmed me. I was 
actually frightened, and bursting into a passionate 
fit of weeping, I exclaimed vehemently : " Oh, 
Gineral, forgive me ! but me conshins wud niver 
give me pace in this world nor in the nixt, if I 
wud take money for carying the dyin missage for 
that swate boy that's dead and gone — God rest 
his soul. Och, indade, indade I nivir cud do sich 
a mane thing, if I im a poor woman." The major 
seemed satisfied, and told me to wait until he re- 
turned with a detachment of men. 

When he returned with the men, I told him 
that I did not feel able to walk that distance, and 
requested him to let me have a horse, stating the 
fact that I had been sick for several days, and had 
slept but little the night before. He did not an- 
swer a word, but ordered a horse saddled imme- 
diately, which was ^ed forward by a colored boy, 
who assisted me to mount. I really felt mean, 
and for the first time since I had acted in the ca- 
pacity of spy, I despised myself for the very act 



RETURN FOR A BODY. 169 

which I was about to perform. I must betray the 
confidence which that man reposed in me. He 
was too generous to harbor a suspicion against 
me, and thus furnished me the very means of be- 
traying him. 

This feeling did not last long, however, for as 
we started on our mission he said to his men : 
" Now, boys, bring back the body of Captain Hall, 
if you have to walk through Yankee blood to the 
knees." That speech eased my conscience con- 
siderably. I was surprised to hear him say -'Cap- 
tain Hall," for I did not know until then that he 
was an officer. There was nothing about his uni- 
form or person to indicate his rank, and I had 
supposed he was a private soldier. 

We made our way toward the house very cau- 
tiously, lest we should be surprised by the Fed- 
erals. I rode at the head of the little band of 
rebels as guide, not knowing but that I was lead- 
ing them into the jaws of death every step we 
advanced, and if so it would probably be death 
for me as well as for them. Thus we traveled 
those five miles, silently, thoughtfully, and stealth- 
ily. The sun had gone down behind the western 
hills, and the deepening shadows were fast gath- 
ering around us as we came in sight of the little 
white cottage in the forest, where I had so recently 
spent such a strangely, awfully solemn night. 

The little detachment halted to rest, and to 
make arrangements before approaching the house. 



170 LOOKOUT FOR YANKEES. 

This detachment consisted of twenty-four men, 
under a sergeant and a corporal. The men were 
divided into squads, each of which was to take 
its turn at carrying the body of their late Captain 
upon a stretcher, which they had brought for that 
purpose. As we drew near, and saw no sign of 
an approaching enemy, they regretted that they 
had not brought an ambulance ; but I did not re- 
gret it, for the present arrangement suited 
me exactly. Having settled things satisfactorily 
among themselves, we again resumed our march 
and were soon at the gate. The sergeant then 
ordered the corporal to proceed to the house with 
a squad of men and bring out the corpse, while he 
stationed the remaining men to guard all the ap- 
proaches to the house. 

He then asked me to ride down the road a little 
way, and if I should see or hear anything of the 
Yankees to ride back as fast as possible and let 
them know. I assented, and joyfully complied 
with the first part of his request. This was a very 
pleasant duty assigned me, for which I mentally 
thanked the sergeant a thousand times. I turned 
and rode slowly down the road, but not ''seeing 
or hearing anything of the Yankees," I thought it 
best to keep on in that direction until I did. 1 
was like the zouave, after the battle of Bull Run, 
who said he was ordered to retreat, but not being 
ordered to halt at any particular place, he pre- 
ferred to keep on until he reached New York. So 



NEW ORDERS. 171 

I preferred to keep on until I reached the Chicka- 
hominj, where I reported progress to the Federal 
general. 

I had no desire to have that little escort cap- 
tured, and consequently said nothing about it in 
mj report ; so the sergeant, with his men, were 
permitted to return to the rebel camp unmolested, 
bearing with them the remains of their beloved 
captain. After getting out of sight of the rebel 
guards, I made that horse go over the ground 
about as fast, I think, as he ever did before — 
which seemed to give him a bad impression of 
Yankees in general, and of me in particular, for 
ever after that night, it was as much as a person's 
life was worth to saddle him ; at every attempt he 
would kick and bite most savagely. 

The next day the following order was issued : 
'' Upon advancing beyond the Chickahominy the 
troops will go prepared for battle at a moment's 
notice, and will be entirely unencumbered, with 
the exception of ambulances. All vehicles will 
be left on the eastern side of the Chickahominy, 
and carefully packed. 

'* The men will leave their knapsacks, packed, 
with the wagons, and will carry three days rations. 
The arms will be put in perfect order before the 
troops march, and a careful inspection made of 
them, as well as of the cartridge-boxes, which in 
all cases wall contain at least forty rounds ; twenty 
additional rounds will be carried by the men in 



172 DISCIPLINE. 

their pockets. Commanders of batteries will see 
that their limber and caisson-boxes are filled to 
their utmost capacity. 

" Commanders of Army Corps will devote their 
personal attention to the fulfillment of these orders, 
and will personally see that the proper arrange- 
ments are made for packing and properly guard- 
ing the trains and surplus baggage, taking all the 
steps necessary to insure their being brought 
promptly to the front when needed ; they will 
also take steps to prevent the ambulances from 
interfering with the movements of any troops. 
Sufficient guards and staff-officers will be detailed 
to carry out these orders. The ammunition-wag- 
ons will be in readiness to march to their respec- 
tive brigades and batteries at a moment's warning, 
but will not cross the Chickahominy until they are 
sent for. All quarter- masters and ordnance offi- 
cers are to remain with their trains. 

'' In the approaching battle the general com- 
manding trusts that the troops will preserve the 
discipline which he has been so anxious to enforce, 
and which they have so generally observed. He 
calls upon all the officers and soldiers to obey 
promptly and intelligently all the orders they may 
receive ; let them bear in mind that the Army of 
the Potomac has never yet been checked, and let 
them preserve in battle perfect coolness and con- 
fidence, the sure forerunners of success. They 
must keep well together, throw away no shots, 



porter's successes. 173 

but aim carefully and low, and, above all things, 
I'ely upon the bayonet. Commanders of regiments 
are reminded of the great responsibility that rests 
upon them ; upon their coolness, judgment and 
discretion, the destinies of their regiments and 
success of the day will depend," 



CHAPTER XIII. 

OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CHICKAHOMINY — PORTER*S 

SUCCESSES DESPATCHES TO THE PRESIDENT HIS REPLY 

HANOVER COURT HOUSE TERRIBLE STORM AND FLOOD 

HOPES OF THE ENEMY A SJDDEN AND STRONG ATTACK 

I ACT AS AN ORDERLY THROUGH THE FLOOD MY RETURN 

AND REPORT JOYFUL NEWS MY OWN DISASTER SCENES 

IN THE OLD MILL WAITING ON THE WOUNDED —MY SUFFER- 
INGS BY THE ROADSIDE A HARD-HEARTED CHAPLAIN A 

STUMBLING BLOCK. 

FOR several days the enemy had been concen- 
trating a large force on the right flank of the 
Federals, with the intention of cutting off their 
communications with the river. A portion of 
Fitz John Porter's corps was detailed to dispose of 
this force, and also to cut the Virginia Central, 
Richmond and Fredericksburg raih'oads. The 
communication was cut off, and after two severe 
engagements the enemy retreated, leaving behind 
them several hundred prisoners, their cannon and 
camp equipage. On the same da,y the following 



174 DESPATCHES TO THE PRESIDENT. 

despatch was sent to the Secretary of War by the 
commanding general : 

''Camp near New Bridge, May 28th. Porter 
has gained two complete victories over superior 
forces ; yet I feel obliged to move in the morning 
with reinforcements to secure the complete de- 
struction of the rebels in that quarter. In doing so 
I run some risk here, but cannot help it. The 
enemy are even in greater force than I had sup- 
posed. I will do all that quick movements can 
accomplish, but you must send me all the troops 
you can, and leave me to full latitude as to choice 
of commanders. It is absolutely necessary to de- 
stroy the rebels near Hanover Court House before 
I can advance." 

To which the President replied: "I am very 
glad of General Porter's victory. Still, if it was a 
total rout of the enemy, I am puzzled to know why 
the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad was 
not seized again, as you say you have all the rail- 
roads but the Richmond and Fredericksburg. I 
am painfully impressed with the importance of the 
struggle before you, and shall aid you all I can 
consistently with my view of due regard to other 
points." 

Two days later McClellan telegraphs again: 
" From the tone of your despatches I do not think 
that you appreciate the value and magnitude of 
Porter's victory. It has entirely relieved my right 
flank, which was seriously throatened, it has routed 



STORM AND FLOOD. 175 

and demoralized a considerable portion of the re- 
bel forces, taken over seven hundred and fifty 
prisoners, killed and wounded large numbers; 
one gun, many small arms, and much baggage 
taken. It was one of the handsomest things in 
the war, both in itself and in its results. Porter 
has returned, and my army is again well in hand. 
Another day will make the probable field of battle 
passable for artillery. It is quite certain that there 
is nothing in front of McDowell at Fredericksburg. 
I regard the burning of South Anne bridge as the 
least important result of Porter's movement." 

The battle of Hanover Court House was cer- 
tainly a splendid affair, and a very important vic- 
tory to the Army of the Potomac. Three days 
after this battle, while the army was divided by 
the river, a portion of the troops having crossed 
over the day before, a most fearful storm swept 
over the Peninsula, accompanied with terrible ex- 
hibitions of lightning and explosions of thunder. 
The water came down all night and all day in per- 
fect floods, completely inundating the valley 
through which the Chickahominy flows, turning 
the narrow stream into a broad river, converting 
the swamps into lakes, and carrying away one 
bridge and rendering the other unsafe. And still 
the rain came pouring down in torrents, reminding 
one of that crisis in the world's history when " the 
fountains of the great deep were broken up, and 
the windows of heaven were opened." Had it not 



176 



A SUDDEN ATTACK. 



been for McClellan's faith in the bible and in God's 
covenant with Noah, he would no doubt have se- 
riously contemplated building an ark, m order to 
save himself and his army from destruction. The 
rebels seemed to think this flood was sent as a 
judgment from the Almighty upon their hated 
enemies, and was a direct interposition of Provi- 
dence in their behalf, which would enable them to 
visit wholesale destruction upon the Yankees. 

On the thirtieth of May the enemy, taking ad- 
vantage of this terrible state of things caused by 
the disastrous storm, came rushing down upon 
our troops in immense force. A battle opened at 
about one o'clock in the afternoon, and after three 
hours' desperate fighting. General Casey's division, 
occupying the first line, was compelled to fall 
back in considerable disorder upon the second 
line, causing temporary confusion ; but the rapid 
advance of Generals Heintzelman and Kearney 
with their divisions soon checked the rebels. Sum- 
ner, Sedgwick, Couch, Keyes and the other com- 
manders also labored valiantly to retrieve the in 
jury etTected by the unfortunate retirement of Ca 
sey's command. 

The enemy, led by Hill and Longstreet, ad 
vanced in massive columns, with threefold lines, 
and came boldly on like an overwhelming wave, as 
if determined to crush all opposition by the sudden- 
ness and fierceness of the attack. Total annihila- 
tion seemed to be their motto, and the determined 



ACTING ORDERLY. 177 

and reckless daring of the fierce and bloodthirsty 
rebels in such overpowering numbers carried con- 
viction to many loyal hearts that they would suc- 
ceed in driving that devoted fragment of an army 
into the Chickahominy, before it would be possi- 
ble fo.r reinforcements to arrive. 

At this time I was in military uniform, mounted 
upon my rebel horse, and was acting orderly for 
General K. Several aides and orderlies had been 
sent with messages and despatches, but no rein- 
forcement had yet arrived, and, taking a Federal 
view of it, the picture presented a gloomy api)ear- 
ance. General K. reined in his horse abruptly, 
and taking from his pocket an envelope, he hastily 
wrote on the back of it with a pencil — " In the 
name of God bring your command to our relief, if 
you have to swim in order to get here — or we are 
lost." Handing it to me he said — " Go just as 
fast as that horse can carry you to General G., pre- 
sent this with my compliments, return immediate- 
ly, and report to me." 

I put poor little "Reb" over the road at the 
very top of his speed until he was nearly white 
with foam, then plunged him into the Chickahom> 
iny and swam him across the river. I met General 
G. about a hundred rods from the river making 
the best of his way toward the bridge. Engineers 
were at once set to work strengthening the crazy 
structure, which was swaying to and fro with the 
rushing tide. The eager, excited troops dashed 

12 



178 JOYFUL NEWS. 

into the water waist deep, and getting upon the 
floating planks Avent pouring over in massive col- 
umns. I preferred to sAvim my horse back again 
rather than risk myself upon such a bridge, for 1 
looked every moment to see it give way and en- 
gulf the whole division in the turbid waters of the 
swollen creek. However, all reached the other 
side in safety, and started along the flooded road 
on the double quick. This was cheering news to 
carry back to General K., so I started again for 
the field ia order to claim the reward of '' him who 
bringeth good tidings." 

I found General K. in the thickest of the fight, 
encouraging his men and shouting his orders dis- 
tinctly above the roar and din of battle. Riding 
up to him and touching my hat, I reported — " Just 
returned, sir. General G., with his command, will 
be here immediately."" It was too good to keep 
to himself, so he turned to his men and shouted at 
the top of his voice — '' Reinforcements ! reinforce- 
ments ! " then swinging his hat in the air he per- 
fectly electrified the whole line as far as his voice 
could reach, and the glorious word "reinforce- 
ments" was passed along until that almost ex- 
hausted line was reanimated and inspired with new 
hope. 

While I was thus watch'ng with delight the ef- 
fects of this joyful news upon the soldiers, my at- 
tention was directed to another object. General 
II., who had made himself conspicuous by his gal- 



MY OWN DISASTER. 179 

lant conduct, was struck by a ball which shattered 
his arm badly. He was only a few rods from me, 
and there was none near to help him. I asked 
General K. if I might go to him, and after obtain- 
ing permission I rode up to him, leaped from my 
horse, and hitched him near by. I then removed 
the clothing from his arm, gave him some water, 
poured some on the wound, and went to my sad- 
dle-bags to get some bandages, when my rebel 
pony laid hold of my arm with his teeth and al- 
most tore the flesh from the bone. Not content 
with that, he turned his heels in an instant and 
kicked with both feet, sending me about ii rod. 
My arm was no<v almost as bad as General H.'s. 
and 1 could do but little to help him, for in ten 
minutes it was swollen terribly, and I could not 
raise it to my head ; finally I was ordered back to 
an old saw-mill about a mile and a half from the 
field, where were considerable quantities of quar- 
termasters' and commissary stores, with orders to 
have them removed further to the rear ; and all 
who were able to come to the front, together with 
the surgeon and a portion of the hospital corps 
who had been left there in charge of the sick, 
were to lose no time in reporting themselves for 
duty on the field. 

Upon arriving at the old saw-mill I found it 
crowded with wounded men who had crawled 
there from the battle-field, to have their wounds 
dressed if possible, and if not to lie down and suf- 



180 IN THE OLD MILL. 

fer where the shot and shell could not reach them. 
I delivered my orders. In a few moments more 
there was not a soul left to minister to those poor 
fellows who were huddled together in that mill by 
the score ; all had gone to the front, and I was 
left there in a sad plight. 

I put my vicious little '' Reb" in a building near 
the mill, where there was plenty of hay and corn, 
but did not dare to unsaddle him. I iAen exam- 
ined the extent of the injury done to my arm, and 
found it was worse than I had supposed. It was 
badly mangled by the horse's teeth, and in one 
place a large piece of flesh was torn from the arm 
and hung by small shreds. But the arm was not 
the worst ; he had kicked me in the side, which 
had lamed and bruised me sadly. Yet this was 
no time to groan over a slight kick from a horse, 
when so many lay around me with shattered limbs 
and ghastly saber wounds, some of them even now 
in the very agonies of death. So, resolutely say- 
ing to pain and lameness, " Stay thou here while 
I go yonder," I bound up my arm in a sling, and 
set about removing the blood-clotted clothing from 
the wounds of those who needed it most; but 
having neither knife or scissors, I was obliged in 
many instances to use my teeth in order to tear 
the thick woolen garments stiffened and saturated 
with blood, the very remembrance of which now 
makes me feel rather uncomfortable in the gastric 
region ; but then there was no unpleasant sensation. 



WAITING ON THE WOUNDED. 181 

The next thing to be thought of was, how 1 
could procure some bandages ; but as to getting 
them from the saddle-bags, I would as soon have 
thought of bearding a lion in his den, as of tempt- 
ing the jaws of that ferocious animal again. How- 
ever, there were two houses within a mile, and I 
decided to try my fortune in that dir^'ction. First 
of all I went among the sick, who were left there 
by the surgeon, and inquired if there were any 
who were able to assist me in dressing wounds. 
Yes, I found two ; one a little mail-carrier, and 
the other a commissary sergeant, both of whom 
were scarcely able to stand alone. These two I 
set to work pouring cold water upon the wounded 
limbs occasionally, and giving the men water to 
drink until I returned. 

At the first house I went to they would not let 
me in at all, but raised the window and wished 
to know what was wanted. I told them, anything 
that would admit of tearing up for bandages. No, 
they had nothing of the kind, and closed the win- 
dow again. I limped along to the next house. 
A man came to the door, holding it, to prevent 
my attempting to get in. The same question was 
asked, and a similar answer returned. By this 
time my patience and strength were both exhaust 
ed, and my mind was made up with regard to the 
course I should pursue. Therefore, drawing both 
my pistols from my belt, I demanded some cotton, 
new or old — sheets, pillow-cases, or any other 



182 MY SUFFERINGS. 

article which would answer the purpose for ban- 
dages. The man trembled from head to foot, and 
called his wife to know if she could let me have 
anything of the sort ; yes, she could, if I would 
pay her for it ; and of course I was willing to pay 
her ; so she brought me an old sheet, a pair of 
pillow-cases, and three yards of new factory cotton 
cloth, for which she demanded five dollars. Hap- 
pening to have only three dollars in change, I told 
her I thought that would be sufficient ; and so 
saying, 1 left immediately. 

I did not know, until I had proceeded some 
distance, that the blood was running from my arm 
in a perfect stream. In my excitement and de- 
termination, I had grasped one of my pistols with 
the lame hand and started those terrible gashes 
bleeding afresh. I grew faint and dizzy, and sat 
down by the road-side to gather a little strength 
before proceeding further. While I sat there I 
saw a horseman coming in the distance, but could 
not tell whether it was friend or foe, for it was 
growing dark. I waited until he came nearer, 
when I was rejoiced to see that it was a chaplain; 
not Mr. B., but of course he was a good man, 
being a chaplain and a Federal. So I felt that 
relief was at hand. But imagine my disappoint- 
ment and chagrin when he came up and, priest- 
like, looked upon me, '' and passed by on the other 
side." Well, after all, I did not c.ire so much for 
myself, but I thanked heaven that lie had come on 



BY THE ROADSIDE. 183 

the poor men's account, for he would, no doubt, 
do much during the night to relieve their sulFer- 
ings. 

Taking courage, I made my way slowly toward 
the mill, where 1 found, on my arrival, the chap- 
lain dismounted, coat off, and wisp in hand, rub- 
bing and brushing every speck of mud from his 
hor^e. After performing this important duty, he 
then went to the nearest house, ordered supper, 
and after partaking of a warm meal, he returned 
to the mill. Oh how glad I was that all these 
preliminaries were gone through with, for now he 
would at once enter upon the care of the wounded, 
and my heart ached for those two sick boys, who 
were still attending to the wants of such as they 
could assist, notwithstanding they required waiting 
upon themselves. 

The wounded were coming in faster than ever, 
and I was busy tearing up the cotton in strips, 
and trying to bind up some of the poor mangled 
limbs, the little sick sergeant being my right hand 
man. I looked around for the chaplain, but he 
was no where to be seen. I hobbled out to the 
building where I had seen him put his horse, to 
see if he had really gone away ; no, he had not 
gone. There he lay on the floor, upon which was 
a quantity of hay, wrapped up in his blanket, ap- 
parently unconscious that there was any such thing 
as suffering in the world. Oh how I wanted to 
go to him, quietly lay my hand on him, and say: 



184 



BAD CHAPLAINS, 



'' Chaplain, will you be so kind as to take the saddle 
from my horse ; it has been on since early morn 
ng, and I am not able to take it off." Not that I cared 
particularly for having the saddle removed, but 
just for sake of having '' Reb " bring the chaplain 
to his senses, and give him a little shaking up, so 
that he might realize that these were war times, 
and that consequently it was out of the question 
for chaplains in the army, especially in time of 
battle, to 

Be carried to the skies 

On flowery b.?ds of ease; 
While others fought to win the prize, 
And sailed through bloody seas. 

But instead of doing so, I sat down and wept 
bitter tears of disappointment and sorrow, and 
then, with a heavy heart and aching limbs, I re- 
turned again to the mill. 

All that weary night my heart burned with in- 
dignation, and 1 seemed endowed with supernat- 
ural powers of endurance, for when morning came 
and found me still at my post, without having 
tasted food for twenty-four hours, I felt stronger 
and fresher than 1 had done the day before. My 
two young sick friends had been persuaded to lie 
down, and were now fast asleep, side by side 
with the wounded. But where was the chaplain ? 
What had become of him ? He had escaped with 
the earliest dawn, without so much as inquiring 
whether the men were dead or alive. This was 



A STUMBLING BLOCK. 185 

the conduct of a man who professed to be a faith- 
ful follower of Him who went about doing good ! 
This was a man whom I had reverenced and loved 
as a brother in Christ. Oh, what a stumbling- 
block that man was to my soul; for weeks and 
months Satan took occasion to make this a severe 
temptation and trial to me. I was tempted to 
judge every christian by that unholy example, 
and to doubt the truth of every christian experi- 
ence which I heard related from time to time. 
But, thank God, I had tlie example of my faithful 
friend, Mr. B., to counterbalance this, and by God's 
grace I was enabled to rise above this temptation. 
My doubts were gradually removed, and my faith 
in christians re-established — but I never suihciently 
recovered from my feelings of disgust towards that 
particular chaplain, to ever again be able to per- 
suade myself to listen to a sermon delivered by 
him, or to attend any religious meeting at which 
he presided. I always looked upon him after- 
wards, as " one who had stolen the livery of heaven 
to serve the devil in ; " a mere whited sepulchre, 
and unworthy the sacred name of a minister of 
the Gospel. 

Oh, may our sympathizinpf breasts 

That generous pleasure know ; 
Kindly to share in others' joy, 

And weep for others' woe. 

When poor and helpless sons of grief 

In deep distress are laid ; 
Soft be our hearts their pains to feel, 

And swift our hands lo aid. 



186 THE BATTLE RENEWED 

On wings of love the Saviour flew, 
To bless a ruined race ; 

IVe would, Lord, thy steps pursue, 
Thy bright example trace. 



CHAPTER XIY. 

TIENEWAL OF THE BATTLE VICTORY FOR THE FEDERAL ARMS 

ADDRESS TO THE ARMY MORE DESPATCHES MY BATTLE TRO- 
PHY — PONY REb's PERFORMANCES THE HOSPITAL TREE 

TOUCHING SCENES BISHOP SIMPSON THE CROSS AND THE 

FLAG AFTER THE BATTLE DELAYS BY STORMS, FLOODS AND 

MUD MC CLELLAn's CALL FOR MORE MEX IN READINESS TO 

MARCH PROMISED REINFORCEMENTS. 

NIGHT brought a cessation of hostilities to the 
weary troops, but to neither side a decided 
victory or defeat. Both armies bivouaced on 
the bloody field, within a few rods of each other. 
There they lay waiting for the morning light to 
decide the contest. The excitement and din of 
battle had ceased ; those brief hours of darknesa 
proved a sweet respite from the fierce struggle of 
the day, and in the holy calm of that midnight 
hour, when silence brooded over the blood- washed 
plain, many brave soldiers lay down on that gory 
field— 

The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die. 

Sunday, the first of June, dawned beautifully, 
a day of hallowed rest and promise to the millions 
who rose to their devotions, ere the bell called them 
to the house of prayer,but not of rest to the weary, 



ADDRESS TO THE ARMY. 187 

broken armies the drum-beat called from their 
wet and muddy beds to renew the contest. At 
a quarter-past seven o'clock the battle again com- 
menced, and raged fiercely until about noon. Both 
armies fought with determination and heroic bra- 
very until the rebels were compelled to yield, and 
victory once more perched upon the banners of 
the National troops. 

I came on the field about ten o'clock, and re- 
mained until the close of the battle, but could do 
little more than look upon the terrible scene. 
General McClellan was on the field when I arrived. 
I saw him ride along the entire battle-front, and 
if I had not seen him, I could not have long re- 
mained in ignorance of his presence — for the 
cheers from all parts of the Federal lines told as 
plainly as words could express that their beloved 
commander was with them, amid that desperate 
struggle for victory. It was a terrible slaughter — 
more than fifteen thousand lay upon the field. It 
was enough to make angels weep, to look down 
upon that field of carnage. The dead and wound- 
ed of the enemy fell into the hands of the Union- 
ists, which added fearfully to the labors of that 
exhausted, battle-worn army. 

On the evening of the third of June, General 
McClellan issued the following address to his 
troops, which was read on dress parade, and was 
received with tremendous cheering : 

'' Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac ! I have 



188 



MORE DESPATCHES. 



fulfilled at least a part of my promise to you. You 
are now face to face with the rebels, who are held 
at bay in front of their capital. The final and 
decisive battle is at hand. Unless you belie your 
past history, the result cannot be for a moment 
doubtful. If the troops who labored so faithfully 
at Yorktown, and fought so bravely, and won the 
hard fights at Williamsburg, West Point, Hanover 
Court-house and Fair Oaks, now prove themselves 
worthy of their antecedents, the victory is surely 
ours. The events of every day prove your supe- 
riority ; wherever you have met the enemy, you 
have beaten him ; wherever you have used the 
bayonet, he has given way in panic and disorder. 

''I ask of you, now, one last crowning effort. 
The enemy has staked his all on the issue of the 
coming battle. Let us meet him, crush him here, 
in the very centre of the rebellion. • Soldiers ! I 
will be with you in this battle, and share its dan- 
gers with you. Our confidence in each other is 
now founded upon the past. Let us strike the 
blow which is to restore peace and union to this 
distracted land. Upon your valor, discipline and 
mutual confidence, the result depends." 

Every battle fought on the Peninsula fearfully 
reduced the strength of the Army of the Potomac, 
tand proved to a demonstration that the enemy far 
outnumbered the Union forces. Still there were 
no reinforcements, notwithstanding McClellan's 
daily urgent despatches to the President and Sec- 



MY BATTLE TROPHY. 189 

retary of War, and the great impending battle in 
front of the rebel Capital so near at hand. 

The next day McClellan sent another despatch, 
as follows : 

'' Please inform me at once what reinforements^ 
if any, I can count upon having at Fortress Mon- 
roe or White House, within the next three days, 
and when each regiment may be expected to ar- 
rive. It is of the utmost importance that I should 
know this immediately. The losses in the battle 
of the thirty-first and first will amount vo seven 
thousand. Regard this as confidential for the pres- 
ent. After the losses in our last battle, I trust 
that I shall no longer be regarded as an alarmist. 
I believe we have at least one more desperate bat- 
tle to fight." 

The day after the battle of Fair Oaks, a splendid 
sword was presented to me. It had been struck 
from the hand of a rebel colonel, while in the act 
of raising it to strike one of our officers after he 
had fallen from his horse. Oh, how proud I felt 
of that beautiful silver-mounted trophy, from the 
bloody field of Fair Oaks, which had so recently 
been wielded by a powerful arm, but powerless 
now, for he lay in the agonies of death, while his 
splendid sword had passed into my feeble hands. 
I presume if he had known this, it would have 
added another pang to his already agonized spirit. 
The sword was presented by General K., to whom 
I gave my rebel pony, with the comforting assur- 



190 reb's performances. 

ance that he was only intended for ornament, and 
not for use ; for generals were too scarce on the 
Peninsula to risk their precious lives by coming in 
contact with him. The General was delighted 
with him, and without paying the slightest atten- 
tion to my suggestion deliberately walked up to 
the pony and commenced patting him and hand- 
ling his limbs as if he were the most quiet creature 
in the world, while "Reb" stood eyeing his new 
master with apparent satisfaction, and seemed to 
rejoice that he had passed from my insignificant 
hands, and was henceforth to be the honored 
bearer of shoulder-straps. After thoroughly ex- 
amining him he said : " He is certainly a splendid 
horse, and worth three hundred dollars of any 
man's money ; all he requires is kind treatment, 
and he will be as gentle as any one could desire." 
But " Reb " very soon gave him to understand 
decidedly that he was overrating his good quali- 
ties; for no sooner had the General turned his 
back toward him than he struck him between the 
shoulders with both hind feet, sending him his full 
length upon the ground ; and as soon as he at- 
tempted to rise he repeated the same performance 
until he had knocked him down four or five times 
in succession. By that time the General was pretty 
thoroughly convinced that " Reb's" social qualities 
were somewhat deficient, his bump of combative- 
ness largely developed, and his gymnastics quite 
impressive. 



THE HOSPITAL TREE. 191 

On Ihe evening of the same day in which the 
victory was won I visited what was then, and is 
still called, the "hospital tree," near Fair Oaks. 
It was an immense tree under whose shady, ex- 
tended branches the wounded were carried and 
laid down to await the stimulant, the opiate, or 
the amputating knife, as the case might require. 
The ground around that tree for several acres in 
extent was literally drenched wilh human blood, 
and the men were laid so close together that there 
was no such thing as passing between them ; but 
each one was removed in their turn as the sur- 
geons could attend to them. I witnessed there 
some of the most heart-rending sights it is possible 
for the human mind to conceive. Read what a 
Massachusetts chaplain writes concerning it: 

" There is a large tree near the battle-ground of 
Fair Oaks, the top of which was used as an obser- 
vatory during the fight, which stands as a memento 
of untold, and perhaps never to be told, suffering 
and sorrow. Many of the wounded and dying 
were laid beneath its branches after the battle, in 
order to receive surgical help, or to breathe their 
last more quietly. What heart-rending scenes did 
I witness in that place, so full of saddened memo- 
ries to me and to others. Brave, uncomplaining 
men were brought thither out of the woodland, 
the crimson tide of whose life was ebbing away in 
the arms of those who carried them. Almost a11 
who died met death like heroes, with scarcely a 



192 



TOUCHING SCENES, 



groan. Those wounded, but not mortally — how 
nobly they bore the necessary probings and needv 
ed amputations ! Two instances of this heroic for- 
titude deserve to be specially mentioned. One of 
them is that of William C. Bentley, of the Second 
Rhode Island regiment, both of whose legs were 
broken by a bomb-shell, whose wrist and breast 
were mangled, and who yet was as calm as if he 
suffered no pain. He refused any opiate or stim- 
ulant that might dim his consciousness. He asked 
only that we should pray for him, that he might 
be patient and submissive, and dictated a letter to 
be sent to his mother. Then, and not till then, 
opiates were given him, and he fell gently asleep, 
and for the last time. 

'■'- The other case was that of Francis Sweetzer, 
of Company E, of the Sixteenth Massachusetts Reg- 
iment, who witnessed in death, as he had uniform- 
ly done in life, a good confession of Christ. ' Thank 
God,' he said, ' that I am permitted to die for my 
country. Thank God more yet that I am pre- 
pared to die ;' and then after a moment's thought 
he modestly added, 'at least I hope I am.' When 
he died he was in the act of prayer, and in that 
position his limbs grew rigid, and so remained 
after the spirit had left his body." 

Oh, who that has witnessed such triumphant 
deaths on the battle-field will presume to doubt 
that the spirit of that patriot who falls amid the 
terrible clash of arms and the fierce surge of bat- 



BISHOP SIMPSON. 193 

tie, is prepared to go from that scene of blood and 
strife, and to enter into that rest that God has pre- 
pared for them that love Him? Yes, the noble 
men who have gone from under the sheltering 
wings of the different evangelical churches through- 
out the land, have gone in the strength of God, 
and with the full assurance that if they should fall 
fighting for the God-given rights of humanity, 
there, amid the shock of battle, the still, small voice 
of Jesus would be heard speaking peace to the 
departing soul, and that their triumphant s[)irits 
would go home rejoicing to be forever with the 
Lord ! When I sec a man first lay himself upon 
the altar of God, and then upon the altar of his 
country, I have no fear for that man's hap]3inesa 
in time or in eternity. 

Good Bishop Simpson, of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, soon after the outbreak of the great 
rebellion, delivered a sermon on the National cri- 
sis, at Chicago. It is represented as one of the 
ablest efforts of this clergyman, so distinguished 
for his power in the pulpit. As it was one of the 
anniversaries of the denomination, thousands were 
present to hear the discourse. Suddenly, at one 
point in the sermon, and as the fitting close of a 
most impassioned paragraph, he gave utterance to 
the following noble sentiment : " We will take v>ur 
glorious flag, the flag of our country, and nail it 
just below the cross ! That is high enough. There 
let it wave as it waved of old. Around it let us 

13 



194 



THE CROSS AND THE FLAG. 



gather: first Christ's; then our country's." Oh, 
that the sentiments of the following beautiful lines 
were the sentiments of every heart in the United 
States : 

O Lord of Hosts ! Almighty King I 
Behold the sacrifice we bring ! 
To every arm thy strength impart, 
Thy spirit shed through every heart ! 

Wake in onr breasts the living fires, 
The holy faith that warmed our sires; 
Thy hand hath made our nation free; 
To die for her is serving Thee. 

Be Thou a piDar'd flame to show 
The midnight snare, the silent foe , 
And when the battle thunders loud, 
Still guide us in its moving cloud. 

God of all nations ! sovereign Lord ! 
In thy dread name we draw the sword, 
We lift the starry flag on high 
That tills with light our stormy sky, 

No more its flaming emblems wave 
To bar from hope the trembling slave ; 
No more its radiant glories shine 
To blast with woe one child of Thine 1 

From treason's rent, from murderer's stain, 
Guard Thou its folds till peace shall reign, 
Till fort and field, till shore and ::ea, 
Join our loud anthem, Praise .o Thee I 

I cannot better describe the state of affairs after 
the battle of Fair Oaks than by giving the follow- 
ing despatch from McClellan, dated June 7th : 
^' In reply to your despatch of 2 p. m. to-day, I 
have the honor to state that the Chickahominy 



AFTER THE BA'TTLE. 195 

river has risen so as to flood the entire bottoms to 
the depth of three or four feet ; I am pushing for- 
ward the bridges in spite of this, and the men are 
working night and day, up to their waists in water, 
to complete them. The whole face of the country- 
is a perfect bog, entirely impassable for artillery, 
or even cavalry, except directly in the narrow 
roads, which renders any general movement, either 
of this or the rebel army, entirely out of the ques- 
tion until we have more favorable weather. I am 
glad to learn that you are pressing forward rein- 
forcements so vigorously. I shall be in perfect 
readiness to move forward and take Richmond the 
moment McCall reaches here and the ground will 
admit the passage of artillery. I have advanced 
my pickets about a mile to-day, driving off the 
rebel pickets and securing a very advantageous 
position. The rebels have several batteries estab- 
lished, commanding the debouches from two of 
our bridges, and fire upon our working parties 
continually ; but as yet they have killed but few 
of our men." 

Again, June 10th, he says: "I am completely 
checked by the weather. The roads and fields are 
literally impassable for artillery — almost so for in- 
fantry. The Chickahominy is in a dreadful state, - 
We have another rain storm on .our hands. I wish 
to be distinctly understood that whenever the 
weather permits I will attack with whatever force 
1 may have, although a larger force would enable 



196 DELAYS BY STORMS. 

me to gain much more decisive results. I would 
bo glad to have McCall's infantry sent forward by 
water at once, without waiting for his artillery and 
cavalry." 

The next day the Secretary of War replied : 
"Your despatch of 3.30 p. m. yesterday has been 
received. I am fully impressed with the difficul- 
ties mentioned, and which no art or skill can 
avoid, but only endure. Be assured, General, that 
there never has been a moment when my desire 
has been otherwise than to aid you with my whole 
heart, mind and strength, since the hour we first 
met; and whatever others may say for their own 
purposes, you never have had, and never can have, 
any one more truly your friend, or more anxious 
to support you, or more joyful than I shall be at 
the success which I have no doubt will soon be 
achieved by your arms." 

The above despatch has the appearance of the 
genuine article — but I am inclined to think it a 
clever counterfeit. While McClellan's requests 
were cheerfully complied with, as far as promises 
were concerned, little was done to strengthen his 
weakened forces in view of the coming struggle 
with an overwhelming force in front, and the 
flooded Chickahominy in the rear. By unreliable 
promises he was filled with delusive hopes, and 
lead on to more certain destruction — to disaster 
and failure, at least. 



CHAPTER XY. 

LEAVB OF ABSENCE VISIT TO THE WILLIAMSBURG HOSPITALS-—* 

EFFECTIVE PREACHING YORKTOWN REVISITED — LONGINGS — • 

WHITE HOUSE LANDING TIRED OF IDLENESS PREPARATIONS 

TO RETURN TO DUTY STUARt's CAVALRY RAID A TRAIN 

FIRED INTO FAIR OAKS GROVE THE STRENGTH OF THJi EN- 
EMY TRYING TIMES ON THE PENINSULA THE ENDURANCE 

OF OUR SOLDIERS LABORS OF MR. ALVORD. 

WHILE preparations were going on for the 
great battle in front of Richmond, 1 obtained 
leave of absence for a week, and recruited my 
shattered health, lame side and arm. Mr. and 
Mrs. B. were both gone home on furlough, and 
Nellie was at the Williamsburg Hospital. I thought 
I should like to visit the different hospitals, while 
I was thus riding round from place to place in 
search of something of interest. I visited Wil- 
liamsburg Hospitals, both Union and rebel, and 
found many things amusing and interesting. 

Nellie was delighted to see me, and told me 
much of her experience since the battle of WiL 
liamsburg. Her hand was still in a sling, which 
reminded me of my first shot at a rebel female. 
She was a most faithful nurse, and had endeared 
herself to all the boys by her kindness and patience 
toward them. She introduced me to several of 



198 EFFECTIVE PREACHING. 

her favorites, calling each by some pet name, to 
which they seemed to answer as a matter of course. 
I spent a day and a night there, and attended a 
meeting in the evening, which was held by a min- 
ister from the Christian Commission for the bene- 
fit of the wounded soldiers. Oh, what a sermon 
was that ! The tender mercies of the Father, the 
love of the Son of God, were described ; the wail- 
ings of the lost and the raptures of the redeemed 
were portrayed in the most powerful and touching 
manner. I have never heard the sinner invited 
to the cross in more persuasive strains than flowed 
from his lips. 

His countenance was pleasing, his manners cour- 
teous, and his deportment unassuming. He did 
not preach one of those high-toned, intellectual 
discourses which we so often hear, and which al- 
most invariably fail to reach the heart. But he 
preached Christ with such winning simplicity, such 
forgetfulness of self, and with such an eager yearn- 
ing after souls, that even the most depraved were 
melted to tears. How soul-refreshing is this sim- 
ple mode of preaching ! I seem to see him 
standing before me now, with uplifted hands, 
glowing cheeks and streaming eyes — and though 
I have forgotten much of the discourse, yet I can 
distinctly remember the impression which it made 
upon me then. It was good, humbling, purifying. 
He was evidently not a highly educated man, yet 
be proclaimed the unsearchable riches of Christ in 



YORKTOWN REVISITED. 199 

such a way as to make the proudest eloquence and 
the most profound philosophy, seem in comparison, 
'4ike sounding brass or tinkling cymbal." 

Often, when hearing a certain class of ministers 
preach, I am reminded of the saying of a good 
Baptist clergyman with regard to A. and B., two 
ministers of his own denomination : " When I hear 
Brother A. preach, I am in love with the man ; 
but when I hear Brother B. preach, I am in love 
with Jesus." This is the kind of preaching we 
want — that which makes us fall in love with Jesus, 
instead of the preacher. Oh, that there were more 
of Christ, and less of self, preached. 

After leaving Williamsburg, I kept on down the 
Peninsula until I came to Yorktown. After visit- 
ing the hospitals there, I then went to the old 
camp where I had spent so many weeks. There 
were the dear old familiar places, but all that gave 
them interest were gone now. The old saw-mill, 
too, was gone, and all that remained was a heap 
of ruins, to tell where it once stood. But there 
was a spot undisturbed, away in the corner of the 
peach orchard, under an isolated pear tree, a 
heaped up mound, underneath which rested the 
noble form of Lieutenant V. It was sweet to me 
to visit this spot once more. I knew that in all 
probability it would be the last time ; at least for 
a long period, perhaps forever. 

When this frail body shall be done with eartli, 
And this heart shall be free from care : 



200 TIRED OF IDLENESS. 

"When my spirit enters that other world, 
Oh, say, shall I know thee there ? 

When the last hours of life are closing around 

And death's summons cometh to me; 
Will God send an angel messenger down ? 

Shall I know the bright spirit as thee ? 

Rest weary heart, rest patient and wait, 

Till thy happiness cometh to thee; 
Thou' It meet and thou' It know when thou gainest that shore 

Which opes to eternity. 

From Yorktown I went to the White House 
Landing, where everything looked neat, orderly, 
peaceful and happy, as a quiet little country vil- 
lage. The grounds were laid out in broad streets 
and squares, which were swept clean as a floor, 
and there were long rows of snow-white tents, 
with their neatly printed cotton sign-boards, " to 
guide the traveler on his way " to the different 
head-quarters, provost marshal, hospital, sutlers, 
blacksmith, etc. 

After spending a day there, and beginning to 
feel tired of idleness, I made up my mind to re- 
turn to camp again. So going to Colonel Ingalls, 
I procured transportation for myself and horse, 
and stepping aboard of a provision train destined 
for Fair Oaks Station, I anticipated a pleasant 
ride ; but, as usual, was blessed with quite a little 
adventure before I reached my destination. The 
train started, and, after steaming over the road 
for some time at its usual rate, had reached the 
vicinity of TunstalFs Station, when we heard the 



FIRED INTO. 201 

down train whistle, and immediately after a sharp 
volley of musketry was fired in the same direction. 
The engineer switched off the track, and awaited 
the other train. It came thundering on as if the 
engineer was possessed by the sauve qui pent 
spirit, and, as it passed, the wildest confusion was 
visible on board, and the groans of the wounded 
could be heard above the screaming of the engine. 
On it went, like a streak of lightning, signaling 
for our train to follow. 

There was no time to be lost ; our train was 
immediately in hot pursuit of the other, and both 
were soon at the White House. Among those I 
saw taken from the cars wounded, was the spy 
whom I had met in the rebel camp in front of 
Yorktown, and heard haranguing his fellow coun- 
tryman upon the important service he had ren- 
dered the Confederate Government, and confess- 
ing himself to be the cause of Lieutenant's V's 
death. 

Everything was thrown into wild confusion by 
the arrival of the trains and the news of the 
attack. The troops at the White House were 
immediately called out under arms to protect the 
depot. All this excitement had been produced 
by a detachment of Stuart's cavalry, consisting of 
about fifteen hundred men, and which resulted in 
the slight disaster to the train ; the burning of 
two schooners laden with forage, and fourteen 
Government wagons ; the destruction of some 



202 



STUARTS CAVALRY RAID 



sutler's stores ; the killing of several of the guard 
and teamsters; some damage done to TunstalFs 
Station ; and the tearing up of a portion of the rail- 
road. There was but little damage done to the 
train, considering that there were three hundred 
passengers. Some military officers of high rank 
were on board, who would have been a rich prize 
for the rebels if they had succeeded in capturing 
the train ; but it had eluded their grasp by the 
admirable conduct and presence of mind of the 
engineer, who crowded on all possible steam, and 
escaped with his freight of human life with only 
a loss of fourteen in killed and wounded. 

As soon as the wounded were taken care of I 
visited the provost marshal, and made known the 
fact that there was among the wounded a rebel 
spy who required immediate attention. He sent 
a guard with me, who searched his person and 
found satisfactory proof that my statement was 
correct. He was only slightly wounded, and by 
the time the railroad was repaired he was able to 
bear the fatigue of a journey to headquarters, and 
I returned to camp. 

On the twenty-fifth of June the battle of Fair 
Oaks Grove was fought. Hooker's command had 
been ordered to occupy a new and important po- 
sition, when they were suddenly attacked while 
passing through a dense thicket and almost impas- 
sable swamp. The foe was gradually pushed back 
until he was obliged to seek safety behind his 



FAIR OAKS GROVE. 203 

rifle-pits. About noon General McClellan, who 
had remained at headquarters to communicate with 
the left wing, rode upon the field and, to the joy 
of his soldiers, ordered them again to advance. 
The order was cheerfully obeyed, and after re- 
newed desperate fighting, at sunset the day was 
won by the Federal arms. 

At this time it was not necessary for me to use 
any stratagem in order to visit the rebel encamp- 
ment, for all that was necessary to be known of 
the rebel force and movements had been already 
ascertained. Consequently I was quietl}' awaiting 
further developments, and while waiting was try- 
ing to make myself generally useful in the hospi- 
tals. A singular case came under my notice there : 
that of a man being stunned by the near approach 
of a cannon-ball. It did not come in contact with 
even his clothing, and yet he was knocked down 
senseless, and for several days he could neither 
hear nor speak. 

I think the most trying time that the Army of 
the Potomac ever had on the Peninsula was in 
front of Richmond, just before the seven days' 
battle — that is to say, if anything could be worse 
than the seven day's battle itself A heavy and 
almost incessant firing was kept up day and night, 
along the entire left wing, and the men were kept 
in those rifle pits, (to say in water to the knees is 
a very moderate estimate), day after day, until 
they looked like fit subjects for the hospital or 



f04 



TRYING TIMES, 



lunatic asylum, and those troops in camp who 
were not supposed to be on duty, but were kept 
in reserve, were often called out ten times in one 
night. The firing would become so alarmingly 
hot that it was supposed a general engagement 
was at hand ; but on going out to the front, per- 
haps it would cease for a moment, then they would 
be ordered back to camp again. In that manner 
I have known the entire force to be kept in mo- 
tion almost all night, and sleep for any one was a 
thing out of the question. 

It soon became evident that there was some 
movement on foot which was not understood by 
the great mass of the army, and I have no doubt 
it was a good thing that the troops did not even 
imagine that a retreat was already being planned 
by their commander. The men endured all these 
hardships most uncomplainingly; yes, cheerfully; 
and every day was supposed to be the last ere 
they would walk the streets of Richmond trium- 
phantly, and thus reap the fruits of their summer's 
campaign. 

The constant fire kept up along the entire line, 
and the frequent charges made upon rifle-pits, rap- 
idly increased the numbers in the hospital, and 
kept the surgeons and nurses busy night and day, 
a nd then they could not attend to all who required 
assistance. Just at this particular juncture I re- 
member the timely aid afforded by the members 
of the Christian Commission and Tract Society. 



CHRISTIAN COMMISSION. 205 

Thej brought relief not only in one sense, but in 
many. Spiritual food for the hungry, dying sol- 
dier — consolation for the worn out and discour- 
aged — delicacies for the sick and feeble — warm- 
gushing heart sympathy for the suffering, and 
actual assistance with their own hands in cases of 
amputations, and the removal of the sick from 
one place to another. Rev. Mr. Alvord gives a 
very modest account of the services which he ren- 
dered, when he says : " I went to the hospitals, 
where I worked hour after hour with the sur- 
geons. Men were brought in with all sorts of 
wounds. Surgeons were scarce and were engaged 
in amputations, so you know I could attend to mi- 
nor matters. Where the bullet had gone through 
body or limb, I could dress it perhaps as well as 
any one ; also, all sorts of flesh wounds. I cannot 
tell you of the variety of operations I performed. 
The wounds had been stiffening since the day be- 
fore, not having been dressed. I enjoyed the 
work, as in every case such relief was given. 
Then I could carry water to the thirsty, and speak 
words of comfort to the dying ; for, as you may 
suppose, there were many in this state." 

Again he says: "Just now, by my side, lies a 
Philadelphia zouave, a fine boy to whom I have 
been ministering. I gave him some hot tea, with 
the charming crackers Mr. Broughton sent ; he is 
now sitting up, looking more cheerful. I mention 
this in detail, that you may have a specimen of 



206 



MR. ALVORD S LABORS 



the work which occupies one every moment 
through the day and night, who is able or willing 
to work in this department. On the other side 
of me, as I write here on my knees, lies a colored 
boy, haggard and sick, to whom I have given 
medicine and similar food. His dark face is full 
of gratitude." 

Many an hour I have worked and watched in 
hospitals by the side of Mr. Alvord, and marked 
his cheerful christian spirit and warm sympathies 
for the sufferers. And often, on a march, I have 
gone to him, and asked if he would let some weary 
sick soldier ride in his carriage, who had fallen 
out by the way — and my request was never re- 
fused, although to do so he would sometimes have 
to walk through the mud himself, his horse being 
frequently heavily loaded. I have also distributed 
publications for him, and have stood by the cot of 
many a dying soldier where he has ministered 
consolation to the departing spirit. He is one of 
those who will have many stars in his crown of 
rejoicing when eternity unfolds the results of his 
faithful labors. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

CHANGE OF BASE ACROSS THE PENINSULA EVACUATION OP 

WHITE HOUSE THE MOVEMENT BATTLE OF MECHANICS- 

VILLE GAINES' MILL A REPULSE MC CLELLAn's DESPATCH 

HOSPITALS IN DANGER CONVALESCENT OFFICERS LENDING 

MY HORSE A LOTTERY INSPECTING FARM STOCK CATCHING 

A COLT DANGER OF CAPTURE — RIDING FOR LIFE BETWEEN 

TWO FIRES. 

THE employment of General McDowelFs force 
in the defense of Washington, and its failure 
to co-operate by land with McClellan, necessitated 
on the part of the Army of the Potomac an imme- 
diate change of base across the Peninsula. Such 
a change in the face of a po\Yerful enemy is con- 
sidered one of the most hazardous undertakings 
in war. But McClellan had no doubt of the abiUty 
of his army to fight its way, even against superior 
numbers, through to the James River, and thus 
secure a new position for an advance against Rich- 
mond. 

The entire energy of the army was now directed 
to this object. A despatch was sent by General 
Van Vliet, chief quartermaster of the Army of the 
Potomac, to Colonel Ingalls, quartermaster at 
White House, as folloAvs : 

" Run the cars to the last moment, and load 
them with provision and ammunition. Load every 



208 



CHANGE OF BASE, 



wagon you have with subsistence, and send them 
to Savage's Station, by way of Bottom's Bridge. 
If you are obliged to abandon White House, burn 
everything that you cannot get off You must 
throw all our supplies up the James River as soon 
as possible, and accompany them yourself with all 
your force. It will be of vast importance to es- 
tablish our depots on James River, without delay, 
if we abandon White House. I will keep you 
advised of every movement so long as the wires 
work ; after that you must exercise your own 
judgment." 

All these commands were obeyed. So excel- 
lent were the dispositions of the different officers 
in command of the troops, depots and gunboats, 
and so thorough was the warning of the approach 
of the enemy, that almost everything was saved, 
and but a small amount of stores was destroyed to 
prevent them from falling into the hands of the 
enemy. General Stoneman's communications with 
the main army being cut off, he fell back upon 
White House Station, thence to Yorktown, when 
White House was evacuated. 

On the twenty-sixth instant orders were sent to 
all the corps commanders on the right bank of the 
Chickahominy to be prepared to send as many 
troops as they could spare on the following day 
to the left bank of the river. General Franklin 
received instructions to hold General Slocum's di- 
vision in readiness by daybreak on the twenty -sev 



BATTLE OF MECHANICSVILLE. 209 

enth, and if heavy firing should at that time be 
heard in the direction of General Porter, to move 
at once to his assistance without further orders. 
At noon, on the twenty -sixth, the approach of the 
enemy, who had crossed above Meadow Bridge, 
was discovered by the advanced pickets at that 
point, and at half-past twelve in the afternoon they 
were attacked and driven in. All the pickets 
were now called in, and the regiment and battery 
at Mechanicsville were withdrawn. 

About three o'clock in the afternoon the enemy 
formed his line of battle, and came down upon our 
troops like a torrent — attacking the entire line. 
McClellan, anticipating a tierce onset, was prepared 
for such an event, and gave him a warm reception. 
Our artillery occupied positions commanding all 
the roads and open ground. Timber had been 
felled, rifle-pits dug, and the infantry were under 
cover of the thick woods. All remained quiet 
until the rebel mass came rushing on — yelling as 
they came — within a short distance of our line, 
when every battery and division opened simulta- 
neously a most destructive fire, which drove the 
enemy back with tremendous slaughter. Several 
other attacks were made on our lines during the 
afternoon, which proved disastrous to the enemy. 
At nine o'clock in the evening the firing ceased, 
the action having lasted six hours. 

During the night the heavy siege guns and wag- 
ons were removed to the right bank of the Chicka« 

14 



210 



GAINES MILL. 



hominy, and most of the troops withdrawn, vnh 
known to the enemy. About noon the next day 
another general engagement came on, and aftei 
seven hours hard fighting the left flank of the Fed- 
eral line was turned, and they were driven from 
their position. 

General McClellan sa3^s : "About seven o'clock 
in the evening they threw fresh troops against 
General Porter with still greater fury, and finally 
gained the woods held by our left. This reverse, 
aided by the confusion that followed an unsuccess- 
ful charge by five companies of the Fifth Cavalry, 
and followed as it was by more determined assaults 
on the remainder of our lines, now outflanked, 
caused a general retreat from our position to the 
hill in rear overlooking the bridge. French's and 
Meagher's brigades now appeared, driving before 
them the stragglers who were thronging toward 
the bridge. These brigades advanced boldly to 
the front, and by their example, as well as by the 
•steadiness of their bearing, reanimated our troops 
and warned the enemy that reinforcements had 
arrived. It was now dusk. The enemy, already 
repulsed several times with terrible slaughter, and 
hearing the shouts of the fresh troops, failed to 
follow up their advantage. This gave an oppor- 
tunity to rally our men behind the brigades of 
Generals French and Meagher, and they again ad- 
v^anced up the hill, ready to repulse another attack. 
During the night our thinned and exhausted regi- 



mcclellan's despatch. 211 

ments were all withdrawn in safety, and by the 
following morning all had reached the other side 
of the stream." 

A despatch from General McClellan to Secre- 
tary Stanton, on the twenty-eighth, tells a sad 
story, a part of which I quote : 

" Had I twenty thousand, or even ten thousand 
fresh troops to use to-morrow, I could take Rich- 
mond ; but I have not a man in reserve, and shall 
be glad to cover my :;ctreat, and save the material 
and personnel of the army. If we have lost the 
day, we have yet preserved our honor, and no one 
need blush for the Army of the Potomac. I have 
lost this battle because my force was too small. 
I again repeat that I am not responsible for this, 
and I say it with the earnestness of a General who 
feels in his heart the loss of every brave man who 
has been needlessly sacrificed to-day. 

" In addition to what I have already said, I 
only wish to say to the President that I think he 
is wrong in regarding me as ungenerous, when I 
said that my force was too weak. I merely inti- 
mated a truth which to-day has been too plainly 
proved. If, at this instant, I could dispose of ten 
thousand fresh men, I could gain the victory to- 
morrow. I know that a few thousand more men 
would have changed this defeat to a victory. As 
it is, the Government must not and cannot hold 
me responsible for the result. 

" I feel too earnestly to-night. I have seen too 



212 HOSPITALS IN DANGER. 

many dead and wounded comrades to feel other- 
wise than that the Government has not sustained 
this army. If you do not do so now, the game is 
lost. If I save this army now, I tell you plainly 
that I owe no thanks to you, or to any other per- 
sons in Washington. You have done your best 
to sacrifice this army." 

While the battle of Gaines' Mill was in progress, 
I was despatched to several hospitals remote from 
the direct line of commun* "ation, with orders to 
the surgeons, nurses, and sucn of the patients as 
could walk, to take care of themselves as best they 
could, for no ambulances could reach them ; that 
the army was retreating to the James River, and 
If they remained longer they would fall into the 
hands of the enemy. 

At one of the hospitals, about eight miles dis- 
tant, I found a captain and three lieutenants with 
whom I was acquainted. They were just recov- 
ering from fever and unable to endure much fa- 
tigue, but could probably reach the James River 
if they should try. I was beset on every side to 
give up my horse to one and to another of them 
until I knew not what to say or do. I did not 
feel unwilling to give my horse to assist them in 
escaping from the rebels, and walk all the way 
myself, but I knew I was expected to return im- 
mediately and report to the officer in command of 
the ambulance corps, and undoubtedly would be 
required to perform other missions during the 



CONVALESCENT OFFICERS. 213 

day. But all such excuses as these were thrown 
into the shade by the powerful oratory of the con- 
valescent captain, who poured forth a vehement 
torrent of overwhelming arguments which would 
have made a less experienced messenger believe 
that the horse was for the captain individually, had 
been sent for his especial benefit, and was conse- 
quently entirely at his disposal. 

His eloquence had not quite this effect upon me, 
notwithstanding I decided to give up my horse 
and to take the consequences. I did not feel so 
particularly drawn toward Captain A. as to let 
him have the horse entirely to himself, and to 
leave the other three poor fellows to live or die. 
Upon coming to the conclusion, after mature de- 
liberation, to part with my faithful horse, the same 
one I rode on the Bull Run battle-field, I informed 
those officers of my intention. But, said I, not for 
the benefit of any one of you in particular, but for 
the mutual benefit of all four ; then I proceeded 
to make arrangements that two of them should 
ride alternately, and not faster than the other two 
could walk. Then I took two slips of paper and 
told them to cast lots to see who should ride first. 

After they had drawn the lots to settle this mat- 
ter, and the poor captain was doomed to foot it 
the first part of the journey, and I saw that he 
looked rather maliciously at me, as much as to say 
that T had assisted fate in deciding that he should 
walk insteoxl of ride, the thouo'ht struck me that 



214 MY LOTTERY. 

there would probably be some trouble when it 
came his turn to ride. So I delivered the fol- 
lowing brief lecture, which was especially intend- 
ed for his ear: '' Gentlemen, you are aware that 
by giving you my horse I am running the risk of 
incurring Major N.'s displeasure, and am exposing 
myself to the very danger from which T am assist- 
ing you to escape. Now, in return, I make one re- 
quest of you, that is that you all do as you have 
agreed to ; don't play false one with the other. 
Those who ride are not to go faster than the others 
can walk, and you are to ride equal distances as 
near as you may be able to judge, unless other- 
wise arranged among yourselves. The horse you 
are to have taken care of when you arrive at your 
destination. I trust 'these matters to your honor, 
but if honor should forget to assert its rights, the 
case will be reported at headquarters." 

There were several others in the same hospital, 
but some were unconscious of the state of affairs 
around them ; others were conscious, but unable 
to help themselves in the least. One of the noble 
hearted nurses refused to leave those helpless men, 
whom he had taken care of so long, and was taken 
prisoner. I marked that noble boy's countenance, 
dress and general appearance, and by making in-^ 
quiry afterwards I found out that his name was J. 
Robbins, of the Second Michigan Regiment, and 
after he had undergone the hardships of imprison- 
ment and had been exchanged, 1 had the honor 



INSPECTING FARM STOCK. 215 

of meeting and congratulating him, I felt that it 
was a greater honor than to converse with many 
of our major generals. 

As I turned to retrace my steps I began to 
think over the lottery busines, and wondered if I 
had not introduced a species of gambling into my 
charitable deed. I did not feel clear on this point 
until I thought of reading in the Bible something 
about casting lots. Yes, it must be right, for 
there were instances of it in the Bible. I tried to 
remember an instance to find out in what connec- 
tion I had read it, but my mind was quite con- 
fused, and it required some time to recall one of 
those passages. After a while, however, I thought 
of the one where the Roman soldiers cast lots for 
the vestments of the Saviour, but this text did not 
bring much comfort to my mind; I was somehow 
reminded of the woman who had named her child 
Beelzebub because it was a Scripture name, and I 
concluded to leave the further discussion of the 
subject until a more convenient season. 

I remembered now of having noticed a farm 
house when I came that way in the mornings 
around which were a number of horses, mules, or 
something of that sort, and I thought it would be 
well to investigate the matter. Moving along in 
that direction as fast as possible, I soon came to 
the house and saw the animals there, feeding as 
before. Whatever I intended to do must be done 
quickly, for the near approach of the cannonading 



216 CATCHING A COLT. 

warned me that the army was fast retreating and 
I would soon be cut off from the James river road. 
I went at once to examine the stock on the farm 
for the purpose of ascertaining whether there was 
anything worth appropriating. 

There were four splendid mules and a colt, but 
whether the colt was a two year old or ten I could 
not tell, for it was very small and very handsome, 
looking much like an Indian pony, and it might 
be a dozen years old. But the all absorbing ques- 
tions in my mind were how was I going to se- 
cure this colt, and if I should catch him what was 
I going to do with him, having neither saddle nor 
bridle? I went to the barn, looked around and 
found an old halter that, for want of something 
better, would be of service. Now was the time 
to catch the colt, but this was easier said than 
done, for upon going towards it I found that it 
was about as wild as a young buffldo. Not dis- 
couraged, however, I started it, together with the 
mules, in the direction of the barn, and opened a 
door leading into a long shed connected with the 
barn. This plan succeeded admirably, for they all 
ran into the shed without the least trouble. But 
the greatest difficulty was to put the halter on the 
colt and get on his back ; however, I at length 
succeed, and, mounting it, started toward James 
river. 

The enemy had by this time succeeded in driv- 
ing the Federals from their first position, and 



RIDING FOR LIFE. 217 

were now between them and me. Turning off 
from the main road, I struck out into the woods 
and rode as fast as possible. The woods were 
open and clear so that I could see a long way 
ahead. On I went until I came near a little 
thicket so dense that I could not see anything be- 
yond its border. Not daring to go into any place 
which looked suspicious, I turned to go round it, 
when my ear caught the click, click of a dozen 
rifles, and a shower of Minnie balls came round 
me thick as hailstones, but not one of them pierced 
even my clothing. My colt took fright at this unex- 
pected salute, and plunged into the woods in an- 
other direction with the speed of lightning. 

I soon came to an open field and saw in the dis- 
tance a large number of soldiers. One glance 
convinced me that they were Federals, for they 
wore United States uniform. Bounding over the 
field in an instant I had come within a hundred 
yards of them before I noticed that they were 
prisoners, guarded by a band of rebels. The first 
thing that caused me to discover this fact was one 
of the prisoners waving his hand for me to go in 
another direction, upon seeing which one of the 
rebel guards sprang forward and struck the pris- 
oner with the butt of his musket. 

This little demonstration revealed to me at once 
my position, and turning I fled in the direction 
indicated by the prisoner, when another volley 
followed me which proved as harmless as the first 



218 



BETWEEN TWO FIRES. 



I began now to think that I was shovt as safe in* 
side the rebel lines as anywhere, for their bullets 
seemed quite harmless so far as I was personally 
concerned. I remembered that when I was a 
child, I heard my mother once tell a Scotch Pres- 
byterian clergyman she was afraid I would meet 
with some violent death, for I was always in some 
unheard of mischief, such as riding the wildest colt 
on the farm, firing off my father's shot-gun, and 
climbing to the highest point of the buildings. To 
which the good old predestinarian replied : "Ah 
weel, my guid woman, dinna fret; it is an auld 
flaying, an' I believe a true one, 'A wean that's 
born to be hung 'ill ne'er be droon'd.' " Then 
turning to me and laying his hand on my head, he 
said: "But, me wee lassie, ye mauna tempt Prov- 
idence wi' your madcap antics, or ye may no live 
oot half your days." I did not know after all but 
that the fates were reserving me for a more ex- 
alted death on the scaffold at Richmond — for the 
old minister's words would occasionally ring in 
my ears: "If the wean is born to be hung it will 
ne'er be droon'd" — and, I added, or be shot 
either. I was now outside of the rebel lines, but 
I was just between two fires, and tremendous hot 
ones at that, for the whole lines were, a perfect 
blaze both of musketry and artillery. Nothing 
but the power of the Almighty could have shielded 
me from such a storm of shot and shell, and 
brought me through unscathed. It seems to me 



NEW POSITION. 219 

now that it was almost as much of a miracle as 
that of the three Hebrew children coming forth 
from the fiery furnace without even the smell of 
fire upon them. 



CHAPTER XVIl. 

WITHDRAWAL TO MALVERN HILL THE SOLDIEr's LAST WATCH 

Trowbridge's grave — scenes in a hospital — capture of 

the wounded a noble surgeon line of battle hard 

fighting the enemy repulsed hunting for food in a 

farm-house perilous position securing the spoils 

relief of the famishing sublime scene on the 

march general keves gun-boats arrival at harri- 

son's LANDING SAD CONDITION OF TROOPS OUR LOSSES 

MC CLELLAn's ADDRESS TO THE ARMV. 

WHEN I reached the main army the troops 
had gained a new position, and were driv- 
ing the enemy back. The troops were well nigh 
exhausted, yet fighting bravely and determinedly. 
Night came and put an end to that day's battle, 
but instead of spending the night in taking care 
of our poor wounded men, we were obliged to 
retreat, under cover of darkness, to Malvern Hill, 
and leave our wounded in the hands of the enemy. 
Of the many who died from exhaustion, as well 
as wounds, during our retreat from the vicinity of 
Richmond, I know of none more worthy of record 
than that of a young man of my acquaintance who 
died on the field the night after this battle. He 



220 WITHDRAWAL TO MALVERN HILL. 

was not wounded, but died at his post from sheer 
exhaustion. In the course of the evening, I had 
seen and offered him some brandy from my flask, 
which I had for the wounded. He was then 
scarcely able to stand on his feet, yet he refused 
to take the brandy, saying, " that others needed it 
more than he did; and besides," said he, ''I never 
take any intoxicating liquor under any circum- 
stances." 

A notice of his death by an eye-witness, given 
under the heading, " the Soldier's Last Watch," 
says: "A lonely grave, a little apart from others, 
stands on the ground of one of the battles fought 
in the retreat from Richmond, in the summer of 
1862, which bears on its wooden head-board sim- 
ply the name, Trowbridge. 

''The turf covers the remains of a youthful sol- 
dier who was not only brave and patient, but ex- 
emplary as a christian. Those battles renewed 
from day to day, and attended by so many hard- 
ships, destroyed many lives in addition to those 
lost in conflict with the enemy. Hundreds and 
thousands of our gallant men, worn out by march- 
es, fighting, hunger, and loss of sleep, became dis- 
couraged, and either recklessly threw themselves 
into the jaws of death, or fell into the hands of the 
enemy, because they were unable to keep up with 
their more robust, though not braver companions. 

" The circumstances of the death of one of these 
silent martyrs to their country were taken down 



THE soldier's LAST AVATCH. 221 

from the lips of a soldier who was with him in his 
last hours. It is all that may be known, save to 
a few bleeding hearts, of one who, alas! like so 
many others, sleeps in that saddest of all places, a 
battle-field. The worn-out soldier, the day before 
his death, said to his lieutenant, ' I am so weak 
and helpless, I do not know what I can do further.' 
He was told to lie down, and get what rest he 
could on the battle-field. About ten at night, said 
his companion, as we were talking together, an 
officer of the company came up, and told us we 
should retreat at two o'clock in the morning. He 
ordered us to stand guard till then, two hours each 
in turn. We took straws, and drew lots to decide 
who should stand first. The lot fell on Trow- 
bridge. I threw myself on the ground, under a 
tree, with my blanket drawn over me, and was 
soon fast asleep. At twelve 1 was aroused, but 
said, ' you must be mistaken ; it cannot be five 
minutes since I lay down.' We had been ordered 
not to speak aloud, or to have a light ; and he re- 
plied in a whisper, ' Feel the hands of my watch — 
it is twelve.' 

'^ I took his place, and he was soon asleep, or 
seemed to be. At half-past one o'clock the order 
came to move. I went to awake Trowbridge, but 
had no answer, except that he groaned heavily 
once and again. I tried to soothe him, and awake 
him gently, but he turned aside his head, groaned 
once more, and was gone I struck a match, and 



222 Trowbridge's grave. 

looked upon his features ; they were set, and 
ghastly in death. I placed his hand on my cheek, 
and asked him if he was still conscious to press it. 
There was no response ; life was evidently extinct. 

'' I made an attempt to find the surgeon, or 
chaplain, but they had both gone forward with the 
army. So I searched his pockets, and taking from 
them six dollars for his mother, and a letter di- 
rected to himself, I replaced the envelope, that his 
name, at least, might be known to those who 
should find the body. Several days after this, I 
was one of the number detailed to go back to that 
spot and bury the dead. On searching near the 
place where Trowbridge died, I found a grave 
with a wooden tablet, bearing his name. Not far 
distant was a house at wdiich I called, and asked 
the inmates if they knew anything of that grave. 
The woman of the family then brought forward 
an envelope, (the very one that I had replaced), 
and said they had buried a soldier there, from 
whose pocket it was taken. It was a relief to 
know what had become of the body. Of course 
I wrote to his mother, sending the money, and 
giving an account of her son's last moments, and 
his burial." 

This is only a solitary instance of the bravery 
and faithfulness of the men who fought those terri- 
ble battles, day after day, many of whom died with 
their muskets in their hands, and without receiving 
a wound, died from hunger, thirst, and fatigue. 



A NOBLE SURGEON. 223 

There was a farm-liouse near the battlefield, 
to which the wounded were carried, and the 
surgeons of the Union Army made it their head- 
quarters during the battle. I will not attempt to 
describe the scenes which I witnessed in that 
building, for it beggars all description. The poor 
fellows seemed to know that they could not be 
removed, and would inevitably fall into the hands 
of the enemy. One man asked a surgeon, who 
had just performed an operation on one of his 
arms, " Doctor, is there no alternative — must I be 
taken prisoner ? " The doctor Avas only a boy in 
appearance, a little Scotchman, and as noble-heart- 
ed a man as ever amputated a limb. He replied, 
in broad Scotch, "No, my man, there is no alter- 
native ; but keep up a good heart, I am not going 
to leave you, I shall be a prisoner for your sakes, 
and will take care of you as long as I can." He 
did so, and was really taken prisoner, but was not 
permitted to do much for those for whom he had 
made such a noble sacrifice. He was Doctor Cle- 
land, of Detroit, Michigan. 

When the order was given to retreat that night, 
I started with my colt, having a good saddle and 
bridle on him now, which I had taken off a dead 
horse on the battle-field, and reached Malvern Hill 
about two o'clock in the morning. After hitching 
my horse, and unstrapping a small bag of oats and 
my blanket from the saddle, I fed him, and pro- 
ceeded to take a glance around, to see how things 



224 MALVERN HILL. 

looked. The artillery was already in position, and 
the weary troops were in line of battle, but flat on 
the ground and fast asleep — all except the guards, 
who were pacing backward and forward in front 
of the line, ready to arouse the sleepers at any 
moment. Feeling safe to consign myself to the 
arms of Morpheus after this reconnoissance, I re- 
turned, wrapped myself in my blanket, and slept 
until the thundering of cannon awoke me in the 
vaorning. 

Malvern Hill is an elevated plateau, about a 
mile and a half by three-fourths of a mile in area, 
nearly cleared of timber, and with several con- 
verging roads running over it. In front there are 
numerous ravines. The ground slopes gradually 
toward the northeast to the wooded plain beyond, 
giving clear ranges for artillery in different 
directions. 

The batteries were advantageously posted on 
those hills, while the reserve troops were sheltered 
as much as possible by the ravines. The artillery 
of the reserve was placed in position so as to bring 
the concentrated fire of sixty guns to bear upon 
the enemy's front and left, approaching from 
Richmond or White Oak Swamp. The brave 
Colonel Tyler, First Connecticut, with great exer- 
tion succeeded in getting ten of his siege guns in 
position on the highest point of the hill ; the men 
having to haul many of them up by hand. Com- 
modore Rodgers, commanding the flotilla on 



HARD FIGHTING. 225 

James river, placed his gun-boats in position to 
protect the left flank and to command the ap- 
proaches from Richmond. 

The battle commenced about nine o'clock in 
the morning, and raged all day with terrible fury. 
At three in the afternoon the enemy attacked our 
right and center with tremendous force both of 
artillery and infantry. The artillery was replied 
to with good effect, but our infantry lay upon the 
ground and withheld their fire until the advancing 
column was within short musket range, when they 
sprang to their feet and poured in a deadly volley 
which entirelv broke the attackin^: force, and 
drove the rebels back some eight hundred yaixb 
in great confusion. 

The battle raged most furiously hour after hour, 
the enemy advancing in massive colunni, often 
without order, but with perfect recklessnes i ; and 
the concentrated fire of our gun-boats, latteries 
and infantry mowing down the advancin/.^ host in 
a most fearful manner, until the slain lar in heaps 
upon the field. 

At four o'clock the firing ceased along the rebel 
line, and it was supposed the battle was over ; but 
it proved only a calm before a more terrible storm. 

At six o'clock the enemy suddenly opened upon 
the left of our line with the whole strength of his 
artillery, and fiercely pushed forward his column of 
attack to carry the hill. His infantry in immense 
force formed under cover of the woods, and 

15 



226 HUNTING FOR FOOD. 

starting on a run across the open space, charging 
almost up to the muzzle of the guns of our advance 
batteries, came rushing on with yells and impre- 
cations — but in a moment the whole hill was one 
blaze of light — those terrible siege guns had 
belched forth a murderous fire, and a simultaneous 
volley from the gun boats, infantry and numerous 
batteries, sent the enemy reeling back to shelter, 
leaving the ground covered with their dead and 
wounded. Then our men dashed forward with 
the bayonet, with wild shouts and cheers, capturing 
prisoners and colors, and driving the routed rebels 
in confusion from the field. 

At a little past four in the afternoon, when 
there was a lull in the terrible storm of grape and 
cannister, I ventured to go to a house which stood 
about half way between our line of battle and that 
of the enemy. I found a large quantity of flour, 
bacon, smoked ham, etc. The appearance of 
everything in the house indicated that the family 
had left suddenly, without disturbing anything. 
The dishes were on the table, as if the family had 
risen from dinner ; the beds and bedding too re- 
mained undisturbed ; the late inhabitants seemed 
to have thought of nothing but of saving their 
lives and escaping from the Yankees. 

I was not long in searching cupboard, pantry 
and store-room, and appropriating tea, baking- 
soda, cream-of-tartar, et cetera. But in order to 
reach the house unobserved by the rebels I had 



PERILOUS POSITION. 227 

been obliged to crawl there on my hands and 
feet, and now the question arose how was I to 
carry anything back with me ? Taking a bed- 
quilt I spread it on the floor and commenced se- 
lecting the most important articles, such as a small 
bag of flour, ham, an iron spider, a large coffee-pot, 
and some other things ; after tying these up in the 
quilt I attached a long bed-cord to the bundle, in- 
tending to drag it along the ground. Just as I 
was completing my arrangements, a shell came 
crashing through the side of the house, and pass- 
ing through the window on the opposite side, it 
made the house tremble as if shaken by an earth- 
quake. Then another and another came in quick 
succession until I was obliged to seek refuge in 
the cellar. The rebels evidently thought that the 
house contained a band of our sharpshooters, and 
were determined to dislodge them if possible, for 
they brought three pieces to bear upon it for 
about twenty minutes, until they succeeded in 
setting it on fire. Before the echo of the last 
shot had died away I heard the crackling of the 
fire above my head, and thought it prudent to 
make an attempt to escape. I did not find it very 
difficult to do so, as the fire was principally con- 
fined to the upper part of the house. So taking 
my precious burden of provisions, which still lay 
unharmed on the floor, I began my retreat in the 
same manner in which I had advanced, drawing 
my pack after me by means of the cord. I could 



228 RELIEF OF THE FAMISHING, 

not make much progress, however, for I found it 
very difficult to drag that immense weight over 
the rough ground. But I at length succeeded in 
reaching the lines, and was hailed by hearty cheers 
from those who were anxiously awaiting the result 
of my hazardous mission. Several of the boys 
caught up the spoil and carried it to the rear, 
where we built a fire and commenced cooking im- 
mediately. An hour later we had a nice lot of 
hot bread, fried ham and tea ready for disposal. 

Oh, I shall never forget the thrill of pleasure 
which I experienced when I carried this food and 
set it before those famishing men, and saw them 
eat it Avith a sort of awe and reverence as if it 
had fallen from heaven. One of the men looked 
up^ with moistened eyes, and said : " Bob, do you 
know that this food has been sent us by our heav- 
enly Father, just as much as the manna was sent 
to the Children of Israel? That boy risked his 
life in procuring it for us, but he never would 
have returned from that burning building if God 
had not shielded him from the bursting shell. I 
believe it has just come in time to save me from 
sharing the fate of poor Trowbridge." 

The battle of Malvern Hill presented, by far, the 
most sublime spectacle I ever witnessed. All the 
battles I had seen before, and those which I have 
seen since, were nothing to be compared to it. 
The elevated position which the army occupied, 
the concentration of such an immense force in so 



SUBLIME SCENE. 229 

small compass, such a quantity of artillery on those 
hills all in operation at the same time, the reflec- 
tion of the flashes of fire from hundreds of guns 
upon the dense cloud of smoke which hung sus- 
pended in the heavens, turning it into a pillar of 
fire which reminded one of the camp of the Israel- 
ites and of God's dealings with His people of old, 
the vivid flashes of lightning, the terrific peals of 
thunder mingled with the continuous blaze of 
musketry, sudden explosions of sliell and the 
deafening roar of cannon, combined lo make a 
scene which was awfully grand. My soul was 
filled with the sublimity and grandeur of the scene, 
notwithstanding the ghastly wounds and piteous 
groans of the mangled, helpless ones around me. 
Thus it continued from seven to nine in the even- 
ing, the most thrilling picture which the imagina- 
tion can conceive. 

As soon as , the firing ceased the rear of the 
army began to move off in the direction of Harri- 
son's Landing, and the exhausted troops in front 
threw themselves upon the ground to rest. 

The greater portion of the transportation of the 
army having been started for Harrison's Landing 
during the night, the order was at once issued for 
the movement of the army upon the final re- 
pulse of the enemy at Malvern Hill. The troops 
were to move by the left and rear; General 
Keyes' corps being ordered to remain in position 
until all had moved oft' — then to cover the retreat. 



230 Harrison's landing. 

General McClellan, in his official report, awards 
great credit to General Keyes for the manner in 
which he carried out these orders. He took every 
advantage of the ground to open new avenues to 
aid the movement, and made preparations to ob- 
struct the roads as soon as the army had withdrawn. 

In this way the march to Harrison's Landing 
was continued; the bridges were all destroyed 
and timber felled across the roads immediately 
after the army passed, thus rendering any rapid 
pursuit by the enemy impossible. The trains were 
kept in the middle of the road, leaving room for 
the infantry on each side, so as to be in good po- 
sition to repel any attack which might be made 
during the march. His dispositions were so suc- 
cessful that, to use his own words: ''I do not 
think more vehicles or any more public property 
were abandoned on the march from Turke}^ bridge 
than would have been left, in the same state of 
the roads, if the army had been moving toward 
the enemy instead of away from him ; and when 
it is understood that the carriages and teams be- 
longing to the army, stretched out in one line, 
would extend not far from forty miles, the energy 
and caution necessary for their safe withdrawal 
from the presence of an enemy in vastly superior 
numbers will be appreciated." 

^'High praise," says the commanding general, 
^' is also due to the officers and men of the First 
Connecticut Artillery, Colonel Tyler, for the man- 



CONDITION OF THE TROOPS. 231 

ner in which they withdrew all the heavy guns 
during the seven days and from Malvern Hill. 
Owing to the crowded state of the roads the 
teams could not be brought within a couple of 
miles of the position ; but these energetic soldiers 
removed the guns by hand for that distance, leav- 
ing nothing behind." 

The enemy followed the army with a small force, 
and occasionally threw a few shells at the rear- 
guard, but were quickly dispersed by our batteries 
and gun-boats, and on the evening of the third of 
July the entire army reached the Landing. 

The troops presented a most distressing appear- 
ance as they drew up in line, and stacked their 
guns at Harrison's Bar. The rain had been pour- 
ing down most of the night, and was still drench- 
ing the poor battle-worn, foot-sore tjoldiers, and 
turning the roads into beds of mortar, and the low 
marshy ground at the Landing into such a condi- 
tion that it was impossible to get along dry shod, 
except for those who rejoiced in the possession of 
high boots. 

The aggregate of our entire losses in the seven 
days' battles, from the twenty-sixth of June to the 
first of July, inclusive, was ascertained, after 
arriving at Harrison's Landing, to be fifteen thou- 
sand two hundred and forty-nine, namely: fifteen 
hundred and eighty-two killed ; seven thousand 
seven hundred and nine wounded, and five thou- 
sand nine hundred and fifty-eight missing. 



232 OUR LOSSES. 

On the fourth of July the following address was 
issued to the troops by General McClellan : 

''Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, "l 
Camp near Harrisons Landincj^^uXj 4, 1862. j 

" Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac : — Your 
achievements of the last ten days have illustrated 
the valor and endurance of the American soldier. 
Attacked by superior forces, and without hope of 
reinforcements, you have succeeded in changing 
your base of operations by a flank movement, al- 
ways regarded as the most hazardous of military 
expedients. You have saved all your material, 
all your trains and all your guns, except a few lost 
in battle, taking in return guns and colors from 
the enemy. Upon your march, you have been 
assailed day after day, with desperate fury, by men 
of the same race and nation, skillfully massed and 
led. Under every disadvantage of number, and 
necessarily of position also, you have in every con- 
flict beaten back your foes with enormous slaugh- 
ter. Your conduct ranks you among the cele^ 
brated armies of history. No one will now ques- 
tion that each of you may always with pride say : 
'I belong to the Army of the Potomac' You 
have reached the new base, complete in organiza- 
tion and unimpaired in spirit The enemy may 
at any moment attack you. We are prepared to 
meet them. I have personally established your 
lines. Let them come, and we will convert their 



OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 233 

repulse into a final defeat. Your Government is 
strengthening you with the resources of a great 
people. On this, our nation's birth-day, we de- 
clare to our foes, who are enemies against the best 
interests of mankind, that this army shall enter the 
capital of the so-called confederacy ; that our na- 
tional constitution shall prevail, and that the Union, 
which can alone insure internal peace and exter- 
nal security to each State, ' must and shall be pre- 
served,' cost what it may in time, treasure, and 
blood." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

RETCRN OF OLD ACQUAINTANCES — THE \VOUKl>Eb COLONEL 1 

VISIT WASHINGTON MILITARY DISPLAY EPAULETS ARISTOC- 
RACY — SPIRIT OF JOHNNY BULL SOLDIERs' FREE LIBRARY 

CONTRABAND CAMP — NEGRO TESTIMONY — PATIENT CHARLEY 

PAINFUL POSITION BROTHER's LAST CONVERSATION — RETURN 

TO THE ARMY — CHRISTIAN COMMISSION — GENERAL HOWAKD's 
SPEECH. 

ABOUT a week after w^e arrived at Harrison's 
Landing a number of our absent ones joined 
us, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. B., Nellie, 
Jack, my wounded darkie friend from Williams- 
burg Hospital, and last and least of all came that 
pusillanimous coward. Colonel — -^-, w^hom I had 
assisted in carrying from the field at the battle of 
Williamsburg, and whom Doctor E. had ordered 
back to his regiment under penalty of being re- 



234 THE WOUNDED COLONEL. 

ported to his superior officer. The next day after 
the arrival of this individual I received a message 
requesting me to appear at the headquarters of 
the — regiment. I started immediately, and found 
to my astonishment that it was this Colonel who 
desired an interview with me. 

He had been gone on furlough ever since the 
battle of Williamsburg, and had played his cards 
so well that he had been promoted to the com- 
mand of a brigade. He had also managed, by 
false representations, to have the following notice 
inserted in the leading newspapers of his native 

State, viz. : "Colonel was severely wounded at 

the battle of Williamsburg, while gallantly leading 
a desperate charge on the enemy's works, and was 
carried from the field, but no sooner had the sur- 
geons bound up his wound than the noble and pa- 
triotic colonel returned again to his command and 
led liis men again and again upon the foe, until 
the day was won ; when he sank upon the ground, 
exhausted from loss of blood and fatigue, and was 
carried the second time by his men from the field." 

The paper in which this false statement was 
published found its way to camp, and Doctor E. 
replied to it, somewhat changing the editor's sen- 
timents with regard to the conduct of the "noble 
and patriotic colonel." He, the colonel, had now 
returned to wreak vengeance upon Doctor E. 

Going to his tent I found the colonel alone. 
He arose as I entered, and in rather an excited 



OUR INTERVIEW. 235 

manner spoke as follows: "I am informed that 
you are one of the persons who carried me off the 
field when I was wounded at Williamsburg, and 
witnessed the infamous conduct of Doctor E., and 
heard the insulting language which he used to- 
ward me." I did not reply, but stood gazing at 
the man before me. He looked me in the face 
for the first time since I entered, and discovering 
the smile of contempt which I could not suppress, 
he seized me roughly by the arm and exclaimed : 
^' See here boy, what do you mean ? Why do you 
not answer me ? " I replied with provoking cool- 
ness and the same sarcastic smile : " Pardon me, 
sir, I was not aware that you asked me a direct 
question ; I understood you to say that you were 
informed that I was one of the persons who car- 
ried you off the battle-field at Williamsburg. I 
have the honor to inform you that thub far your 
informant was correct.'' 

" Then you saw the treatment which I received, 
and heard the abusive language which Doctor E. 
made use of on that occasion ? " 

" I saw Doctor E. examine you carefully and 
thoroughly, and when he could discover no cause 
for your being brought there, I heard him say — 
' Colonel, you are not wounded at all. You had 
better let these boys carry you back to your regi- 
ment;' and when you so suddenly recovered your 
strength and sprang to your feet, making use of 
threats and profane language, he said : ' If you do 



236 



I VISIT WASHINGTON 



not return to your regiment within fifteen minute? 
I will report you to General .' " 

Suddenly relaxing his grasp of my arm, he as- 
sumed a fawning tone and manner, and taking a 
paper from his pocket he asked me to put my 
name to it, and he would reward me handsomely. 
I took the document from his hand and read it 
carefully. It was drawn up, as near as I can re- 
member after the following manner : '' This is to 

certify that Colonel has been infamously 

treated and maliciously slandered by Doctor E., 
while said colonel was suffering from a wound re- 
ceived at Williamsburg battle. Two of the under- 
signed carried him bleeding from the field, and 
witnessed the cruel treatment and insulting lan- 
guage of Doctor E." 

After reading the document, I said very calmly 
and decidedly, '' Colonel, I must decline signing 
this paper." 

By this time I had become indignant, and de- 
termined to cut short the interview ; so touching 
my hat in mock respect, I left him to his own 
reflections. 

Now it came my turn to visit Washington — 
and the very next boat that left the landing bore 
me over the quiet waters of the James river. In 
due time I reached the Capital, and spent three 
days in visiting the hospitals in Washington, 
Georgetown and Alexandria, and various other 
places of interest. 



MILITARY DISPLAY. 237 

I was commissioned with numerous orders and 
had any amount of messages to deliver for officers 
and others ; as many of our men were in the dif- 
ferent hospitals in those cities, and I was expected 
to find them and deliver letters, packages, etc. 

The military display made in Washington is 
certainly astonishing, especially to those who are 
accustomed to see major generals go round in 
slouched hats and fatigue coats, without even a 
star to designate their rank. But cocked and 
plumed hats, scarlet lined riding cloaks, swords 
and sashes, high boots and Spanish spurs, immense 
epaulets, glittering stars, and gaily caparisoned 
horses, are to be seen by the hundred around Wil- 
lard's hotel and other places of resort. 

I noticed that some in particular wore painfully 
tight uniforms and very small caps, kept on by some 
new law of gravitation, as one portion rested on 
the bump of self esteem and the other on the 
bridge of the nose. " Miss Periwinkle" says of this 
class of military heroes : *' They look like stuffed 
fowls, and ride as if the safety of the nation de- 
pended upon their speed alone." 

Chaplain A. H. Quint manfully defends the miil^ 
tiplicity of epaulets in Washington, and very ap- 
propriately remarks : " Willard's is the news depot. 
Consider how easily a hundred, interested to read 
the bulletin there, could assemble. First, the 
general-in-chief is in Washington, and has a staff 
necessarily. Secondly, the quartermaster general, 



238 EPAULETS AND ARISTOCRACY. 

the adjutant general, the military governor, the 
paymaster -general, and the surgeon-general, have 
each a staff. Thirdly, what military force there is 
in the city has officers. Fourthly, there is a mul- 
titude of surgeons easily mistaken for army officers, 
as they wear uniforms. Add to these the conva- 
lescent officers just able to move about, and you 
have hundreds necessarily in Washington. And 
of course the display of epaulets is great." 

Notwithstanding the ''troublous times," there 
are generally gay times at the Capital. Levees 
and public receptions are frequent, except during 
the reign of terror, when some bold dash of rebel 
cavalry is made upon the devoted city, and then 
there is a genuine panic for a short time. 

In Washington I think there is as much of the 
aristocratic spirit as you will find in the United 
States. People there are respected and graded 
according to their uniform ; everything is regu- 
lated according to caste, and it is as David Crock- 
et says about dining : common people dine at 
twelve, common clerks in departments at one, 
head clerks at two, representatives at three, heads 
of departments at four, senators at five, ambassa- 
dors at six, and the President — well, he doesn't 
dine till the next day. 

In one of my rambles I visited the Senate cham- 
ber. It was unoccupied, except by a few speci- 
mens of young America, who were playing leap- 
frog over the seats and desks. I leisurely sur- 



SPIRIT OF JOHNNY BULL. 239 

veyed every item of interest — sat in Sumner's 
chair, and recalled the scene enacted there a few 
years previous, and in imagination thrashed Brooks 
until he was a fit subject for a hospital — then giv- 
ing him a farewell coup de pied^ I betook me to 
the picture galleries. 

After admiring Pocahontas suificiently, and gaz- 
ing at expiring heroes, who all ''appeared to be 
quitting their earthly tabernacles in convulsions," 
ruffled shirts, and a tremendous shower of bomb- 
shell, until my head ached ; I then turned for 
relief to the noble form of " The Father of his 
Country," which looked out from the canvas in 
all the princely majesty which characterized that 
great and good man. I stood wrapped in profound 
reverence, when a friend drew my attention to two 
paintings which I had not noticed before. They 
represented the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and 
General Burgoyne. I fell a warm current of blood 
rush to my face, as 1 contemplated the humiliating 
scene — the spirit of Johnny Bull triumphed over 
my Yankee predilections — and I left the building 
with feelings of humiliation and disgust. 

Next in order, I visited the " Soldier's Free Li- 
brary," in Fifth street, under the superintendence 
of John A. Fowle, Esq. He has accumulated over 
two thousand five hundred volumes of well select- 
ed historical, biographical and religious works. 
The soldiers in the different hospitals have the 
free use of the library, which is open daily. The 



240 soldier's FREE LIBRARY. 

room is nicely famished, and the pictures hanging 
on the walls give it a cheerful, home-look, and the 
soldiers come there by the score. It is an excel- 
lent arrangement. Thanks to the benevolent 
hearts and hands that have provided such a luxury 
for the soldier. 

An hour's walk through the contraband camp 
was amusing and instructive. Here were speci- 
mens of all grades of the negro character, from 
the genuine pious, cheerful trusting christian, to 
the saucy, lazy, degraded creature, which genera- 
tions of slavery has made almost on a level with 
the beasts of the field. But all of them kind- 
hearted, merry-tempered, and quick to feel and 
accept the least token of kindness. 

Their cheerfulness is proverbial ; old women, 
with wool white with age, bent over the wash-tub, 
grinned and gossiped in the most cheerful man- 
ner — girls romped with their dusky sweethearts, 
and mothers tossed their babies with that tender 
pride and mother-love which beautifies the black- 
est and homeliest face. 

All were happy, because they were free — and 
there seemed to be no room for anything like 
gloom or despondency in their hearts. Men, wo- 
men, and children sang, whistled and laughed to- 
gether — and whether their songs were of heaven, 
or of hoe-cakes, they were equally inspiring. 

I found a young lady there, from the North, 
who had come to Washington with the intention 



CONTRABANDS. 241 

of nursing the sick soldiers, but her sympathies 
being divided between sick America and down- 
trodden Africa, she decided to teach the contra- 
bands instead. She seemed delighted with her 
employment, and the little black faces were beam- 
ing with joy as they gathered around her to re- 
ceive instruction. 

One colored man stood listening to the ques- 
tions which were being asked and answered, and 
looked as if he would like to give in his testimony. 
I turned to him, and asked : " How is it with you? 
do you think you can take care of yourself, now 
that you have no master to look after you ? " 
'' Gosh a-mighty, guess I can ! Ben taking car' 
of self and massa too for dis fifteen year. Guess 
I can take car' of dis nig all alone now.'^ 

While at one of the hospitals in Alexandria, the 
head steward told me the following touching in- 
cident, which occurred in that hospital. Said he : 

'^ A young man had been placed under our care, 
who had a severe wound in the thigh. The ball 
passed completely through, and amputation was 
necessary. The limb was cut up close to the body, 
the arteries taken up, and he seemed to be doing 
well. Subsequently, one of the small arteries 
sloughed off; an incision was made, and it was 
taken up. ' It is well it was not the main artery,' 
said the surgeon, as he performed the operation. 
' He might have bled to death before it could have 
been taken up.' But the patient, (Charley, as we 

16 



242 



TOUCHING SCENE. 



always spoke of him), got on finely for a time, 
and was a favorite with us all. 

''I was passing through the ward one night, 
about midnight, when suddenly, as I was passing 

Charley's bed, he spoke to me : ' H , my leg 

is bleeding again.' I threw back the bedclothes, 
and the blood spirted in the air. The main artery 
had sloughed off. 

^' Fortunately, I knew just what to do ; and in an 
instant I had pressed my thumb on the place, and 
stopped the bleeding. It was so close to the body 
that there was barely room for my thumb, but I 
succeeded in keeping it there, and arousing one 
of the convalescents, sent him for the surgeon, 
who came in on a run. 

'^ ' I am so thankful,' said he, as he saw me, ' that 
you were up, and knew what to do, for otherwise 
he must have bled to death before I could have 
got here.' 

'' But on examination of the case, he looked ex- 
ceedingly serious, and sent for other surgeons. 
All came who were within reach, and a consulta- 
tion was held over the poor fellow. One conclu- 
sion was reached by all. There was no place to 
work, save the spot where my thumb was placed; 
they could not work under my thumb, and if I 
removed it he would bleed to death before the 
artery could be taken up. There was no way to 
save his life. 

''Poor Charley! He was very calm when they 



A PAINFUL POSITION. 243 

told him, and he requested that his brother, who 
was in the same hospital, might be called up. He 
came and sat down by the bedside, and for three 
hours I stood, and by the pressure of my thumb 
kept up the life of Charley, while the brothers had 
their last conversation on earth. It was a strange 
position for me to occupy, to feel that I held the 
life of a fellow mortal in my hands, and stranger 
yet to feel that an act of mine must cause that life 
to depart. Loving the poor fellow as I did, it 
was a hard thought ; but there was no alternative. 
The last words were spoken. Charley had ar- 
ranged all his business affairs, and sent tender 
messages to absent ones, who little dreamed how 
near their loved one stood to the grave. The 
tears filled my eyes more than once as I listened 
to those parting words. The last good-bye was 
spoken ; then turning to me, he said : ' Now, 

H , I guess you had better remove your 

thumb.' 'Oh, Charley! how can I,' said I. 'But 
it must be done, you know,' he replied. 'I thank 
you very much for your kindness, and now, good- 
bye.' He turned away his head. I raised my 
thumb — once more the life-current gushed forth, 
and in three minutes he was dead." 

Having heard and seen considerable on my little 
pleasure trip, and my leave of absence having 
nearly expired, I prepared to return once more to 
duty, and on my way to the boat I was fortunate 
enough to meet with some of the Christian Com 



244 GENERAL HOWARD. 

mission delegates, who were going to Harrison's 
Landing on the same boat, and had quite a supply 
of good things for our sick and wounded. May 
God bless the Christian Commission — it is doing a 
noble work, not only for the sick and wounded, 
but for our soldiers generally. 

General Howard, of Maine, that noble christian 
patriot of whom I have spoken in a previous chap- 
ter, was one of the speakers at the great meeting 
in Philadelphia, January twenty-eighth, the second 
anniversary of the United States Christian Com- 
mission. He delivered a most touching and 
appropriate address on that occasion, and as it 
expresses my own sentiments, both with regard 
to the Christian Commission and the religion of 
Christ generally, I will quote a portion of his 
speech, for the benefit of my readers who may not 
have read it elsewhere : 

'' I may be allowed to speak freely to the friends 
who are here to-night. Let me tell you one thing 
which I need not suppress if I could, and that is, 
that I feel in my heart a deep and abiding interest 
in the cause of my Redeemer. I know that this 
is also the cause of the Christian Commission, and 
therefore I love it, and identify myself with it; 
and I doubt not that you love it, and will do ev- 
erything to sustain it, for a like reason. And now 
1 ask you, as I am to go back to the field to take 
up my cross anew, and to stand up night and day, 
and morning, for the cause of Him I 



CHRISTIAN COMMISSION. 245 

love, that your earnest, importunate prayers may 
follow me, and that God would bless the soldiers, 
that evil may be repressed among them, and that 
■when they go into battle they may go without a 
fear, because they know in whom they have be- 
lieved. 

'' I assert that the highest type of courage is 
christian courage. When your spirit yearns up 
to God in prayer, ' Oh, Lord, be my protector, 
and in this peril let me run under the shadow of 
thy wing,' then you will fear no evil, though you 
walk through the valley and the shadow of death. 
My friends, these things are realities with me. 
By the blessing of God, by his spirit, he has ena- 
bled me to have a clear conviction that should he 
take me away I shall go to be with him. Not 
because I am good, or holy, or righteous; but 
because I have a Saviour ; an all-sufficient Saviour, 
who is able to save even the chief of sinners unto 
the utmost. Therefore, I am able to say that I 
can go into the battle fearing no evil. And would 
to God, for their sakes, that every officer in the 
army and every soldier in the ranks could declare, 
in sincerity from the depths of his heart, that God 
had done such great things for him! These, to 
me, are settled, solemn convictions ; and I speak 
them freely and frankly, as I am encouraged to do 
on this auspicious occasion. 

"It may seem to some that it is expressing one's 
feeliiig^ ^oo publicly ; but I think it well for me 



246 ITS LABORS. 

to bear such testimony in a work like yours, 
which contemplates this great and all-important 
result, the promotion of heart religion and the sal- 
vation of souls. And especially do I feel this in 
these times of excitement and terror — over the 
mere temporal accessories of war, the dreadful 
sacrifice of lives, the horrible sights of wounds, 
the caring for the sick and wounded, the lamenta- 
tions for the dead — amid all this I fear that the 
still, small voice has not always been listened to ; 
the silent and beautiful, though wonderful work of 
the Spirit of God has not been seen, and its im- 
portance felt as it should be in our land. This 
the Christian Commission is striving to accomplish; 
it seeks to keep alive the spirit of Christianity 
among our soldiers. Their agency is the leaven 
in our armies. May they leaven the whole lump ! 

" It is this only that will prepare us for our 
liberty. This bond, the bond of christian love, is 
the true bond after all that shall permanently 
unite us. There is no other. We speak of the 
claims of commerce and trade, of corn and cotton, 
that will unite the sections of our country ; but 
these are temporary, fluctuating, perishing links. 
The religion of Jesus Christ is the lasting bond 
that connects not only Maine with Massachusetts 
and Massachusetts with Connecticut, but Maine 
with Texas and Florida with Wisconsin. 

"We boast of being an asylum for all nations. 
From England, Ireland, France, Germany, Russia, 



ITS OPEN ARMS. 247 

and almost every country beyond the ocean, come 
men, women and children, who settle down in our 
midst. How shall we cause them to assimilate to 
us? How shall we ever make them good and 
useful citizens ? Will it be, think you, by merely 
giving them land on which to settle ? Will they 
become one with us because they grow in materi- 
al wealth and prosperity ? No, no ! Nothing 
but an education, a true education of heart and 
morals, such as the religion of Jesus Christ imparts, 
can ever truly and safely assimilate all these het- 
erogeneous elements, and enable us to be truly 
one people. 

^' The gospel has its victories to achieve for us 
as well as the sword. Many of the rebels hated 
us worse before the war than they do now. They 
respect us much more than they once did, after 
seeing that we are not afraid to expose our bodies 
to be burned, if necessary, in a just cause — the 
cause of our country that we love ; that we shrink 
from no sacrifice of money, time or life in order 
to maintain and perpetuate the beautiful Govern- 
ment that our fathers bequeathed to us. But this 
is not all. They have felt, too, the power of the 
spirit of kindness and love, of which the religion 
of Jesus has borne so many fruits in this struggle. 

'' They have been astonished at the kindness 
which has been shown to them when they have 
fallen into our hands. It Avas this that demoral- 
ized them at Yicksburg. In the West the rebels 



248 ITS FRIENDS. 

are not so violent as they were. When they come 
into our lines now they say they were forced to 
fight, that they are Union men, and always were 
Union men. And they are coming in every day. 
We have just heard that when General Rosecrans 
took command of the Cumberland army, eight 
thousand delivered themselves up to us. And 
do they hate us ? No ! We have melted them 
down by christian kindness and love. And, my 
friends, this is the way to disarm them. I believe, 
and say it with emphatic assurance, that if we all 
have the spirit of the Master in our hearts we shall 
demoralize them wherever we find them ! 

'^I do not advocate any shrinking back or 
checking of the terrible steeds of war. No! Fill 
up the ranks. Make the next campaign more vig- 
orous than any that has gone before it, so that it 
shall be, by the Divine help, perfectly impossible 
for the rebels to keep the field. But let us wield 
this power along with the alleviating and saving 
influences of the religion of Christ. Let these, as 
diffused by the Christian Commission and in other 
ways, follow our armies everywhere, blessing 
friend and foe alike, and we shall then cause the 
enemy to come within our lines, not only by the 
eight thousand, but by the sixteen and sixty thou- 
sand. It is this that will ruin their cause, and 
finally break down their opposition." 



CHAPTER XIX. 

MT CONSTANT COMPANION DISPELLING THE BLUES GENTLK 

NELLIE FACES IN THE HOSPITAL ASLEKP AND AWAKE MY 

HORSE AGAIN AT HARRISOn's LANDING IMPATIENT TO MOVE 

DISSATISFACTION IN THE ARMY — RETREAT FROM RICHMOND • 

RETURN TO NEWPORT NEWS— SUSPICIOUS QUARTERS— SEARCHING 

THE HOUSE AND FINDING REBEL SOLDIERS THANKS TO THE 

ARMY OUR ARRIVAL AT ACQUIA CREEK. 

WHILE we remained at Harrison's Landing I 
spent much of my time in the hospitals. 
Nellie was now my faithful friend and companion, 
my colleague when on duty, and my escort on all 
occasions in my rides and rambles. She was a. 
splendid woman, and had the best faculty of dis- 
pelling the blues, dumps and dismals of any per- 
son I ever met. When we went to a hospital and 
found the nurses looking tired and anxious and 
the patients gloomy and sad, it never required 
more than half an hour for us to get up a different 
state of feeling, and dispel that '^ Hark-from-the- 
tombs-a-doleful-sound " sort of spirit, and we inva- 
riably left the men in a more cheerful mood, 
evidently benefited by having a little respite from 
that depressing melancholy so prevalent among 
the sick, and so often indulged by nurses. 

In our own hospital we generally managed to 



250 GENTLE NELLIE. 

SO assort and arrange the patients as to have all of 
the same temperament and disease together, so 
that we knew just what to do and what to say to 
suit each department. We had our patients di- 
vided into three classes ; one was our w^orking de- 
partment, another our pleasure department, and a 
third our pathetic department. One we visited 
with bandages, plasters and pins; another, with 
books and flowers ; and the third, with beef tea, 
currant wine, and general consolation. Some- 
times Nellie would sit and fan the patients for 
hours in the latter department, and sing some 
soothing pieces in her soft, sweet strains, until she 
would have them all asleep, or quiet as babies. 1 
think the soldiers may truly say of the gentle 
Nellie: 

Her soothing tones with peace beguile 

The weary hours of pain, 
And make the lonely sufferer smile 

And joy to come again. 

Still let me often hear thy voice, 

Which gently whispers peace, 
And let my troubled heart rejoice, 

And strains of sadness cease ; 

Still speak to me of pleasant things — 

Of faith, and hope, and joy ; 
Then shall I rise on lightsome wings 

Where pains no more annoy. 

I used to watch with much interest the coun- 
tenances of those men as they lay fast asleep, and 
I often thought that I could read their characters 
better when asleep than when awake. Some faces 



ASLEEP AND AWAKE. 251 

would grow stern and grim — they were evidently 
dreaming of war, and living over again those ter- 
rible battles in which they had so recently partici- 
pated; some groaned over their wounds, and 
cursed the rebels vigorously; others grew sad, 
and would talk in the most pathetic tones, as if 
the pain borne so silently through the day re- 
venged itself now by betraying what the man's 
pride concealed so well while awake. Often the 
roughest grew young and pleasant when sleep 
smoothed away the hard lines from the brow, let- 
ting the real nature assert itself Many times I 
would be quite disappointed, for the faces which 
looked merry and pleasing when awake would 
suddenly grow dark and hideous, as if communing 
with some dark spirits of another world. 

One poor fellow, whose brain was injured more 
than his body, would wear himself out more in an 
hour when asleep than in a whole day w^hen 
awake. His imagination would conjure up the 
wildest fancies ; one moment he was cheering on 
his men, the next he was hurrying them back 
again ; then counting the dead around him, while 
an incessant stream of shouts, whispered warnings 
and broken lamentations would escape from his lips. 

I became acquainted with a young man from 
Rhode Island in one of the hospitals, who was the 
most patient and cheerful person it has been my 
lot to meet under such circumstances. I find the 
following notice with regard to him : 



252 STRANGE CONVERSION. 

^' I came out here," said he, "as rough and as 
bad as any of them. But I had left a praying 
mother at home. While in camp at Poolesville 1 
heard that she was dead. After that her image 
was never out of my thoughts. It seemed as if 
her form appeared to me as in a mirror, and al- 
ways as wrestling for her wayward son. Go where 
I might I felt as if I saw her in her place of pray- 
er, kneeling and putting up her petitions to God, 
and not even the roar of battle could drown the 
soft tones of her voice." 

He was at the battle of Fair Oaks, and when it 
ceased sat down on a log, exhausted, by the way- 
side, and then, to use his own words, he "thought 
over the matter." Heaps of dead men lay on 
every side of him. They had fallen, but he was 
still unharmed. The melting words of his mother's 
prayer came back to his mind with new power. 
lie thought of his own condition, and of her happy 
home, so far removed from the strife and agony 
of war. A pious soldier of his company noticed 
that he was very thoughtful, and inquired the rea- 
son. To this friend he opened his mind freely, 
and told him how he felt. They sought occasion 
for private conference, commxuned together and 
prayed; strength was given him to make the "last 
resolve," and the soldier who had been so rough 
and bad became a soldier in the Army of Jesus. 
The sainted mother had not prayed in vain. A 
"battle had just been fought, a victory won, which 



MY HORSE AGAIN. 253 

was spreading joy throughout the nation ; but 
here, too, was a triumph, a different triumph, such 
as cause the angels of God in heaven to rejoice. 

Just as I am, without one plea, 

But that Thy blood was shed for me, 

And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee, 
Lamb of God ! I come. 

One day, while employed in the hospital assist- 
ing Nellie in some new arrangement for the amuse- 
ment of the men, I received a letter from the 
captain to whom I had given my horse for the use 
of himself and three companions on the retreat 
from before Richmond. He and his friends had 
reached the James river in safety, and had been 
so fortunate as to get on board of one of the trans- 
ports which had been sent for the wounded, and 
were now comfortably installed in a hospital ia 
Washington. He also wrote that he had givea 
my horse in charge of one of the quartermasters 
of General G.'s brigade, a piece of information 
which I was exceedingly glad to hear, for my colt 
was well nigh spoiled on the retreat, and if it had 
not been, was not fit to ride much, or indeed at 
all, to do it justice, for it proved to be not quite 
two years old. 

But upon finding the quartermaster I was po- 
litely informed that he had bought and paid for 
the horse, and of course I could not have it. I 
said nothing, but went to General M.'s headquar- 
ters, stated the case, and procured an order which 



254 AT Harrison's landing. 

brought the horse in double-quick time, and no 
thanks to the quartermaster. 

A month passed away, and everything remained 
quiet at Harrison's Landing and vicinity. The 
troops, having rested, began to grow tired of the 
routine of camp life, and were anxious for 
another brush with the enemy. The vigilant eye 
of McClellan noted the impatience of the men, and 
he daily kept urging the necessity of reinforce- 
ments, and protested against leaving the Peninsu- 
la, as retreat, in his opinion, would prove disas- 
trous both to the army and the cause. Our com- 
mander's patience was well nigh exhausted, as the 
following brief despatch of July 30th indicates : 

"I hope that it may soon be decided what is to 
be done by this army, and that the decision may be 
to reinforce it at once. We are losing much valua- 
ble time, and that at a moment when energy and 
decision are sadly needed." 

About this time an order came from Washing- 
ton for all the sick to be sent away, without giving 
any definite information with regard to the in- 
tended movements of the army. 

August fourteenth orders came for the army 
to evacuate Harrison's Landing. None knew 
whither they were going, but notwithstanding 
every pains was taken to conceal the destination 
from the troops, it was evident that we were re- 
treating ; for the ominous fact that we turned our 
backs toward Richmond was very suggestive of a 



RETREAT FROM RICHMOND. 255 

retreat. This had a demoralizing effect upon the 
troops, for they had confidently expected to ad- 
vance upon Richmond and avenge the blood of 
their fallen comrades, whose graves dotted so 
many hillsides on the Peninsula, and whose re- 
mains would now be desecrated by rebel hands. 
The men were deeply moved; some wept like 
children, others swore like demons, and all par- 
took in the general dissatisfaction of the movement. 

On the morning of the sixteenth the whole army 
was en route for parts unknown. Our destination 
proved to be Newport News — a march of nearly 
seventy miles. It was well for us we did not know 
it then, or probably there would have been more 
swearing and less weeping among the soldiers. 
So far as I was personally concerned, I had a very 
pleasant time during that march. Mr. and Mrs. 
B., Dr. E., Nellie and myself, made up a small 
party, independent of military discipline, and rode 
fast or slow, just as it suited our fancy, called at 
the farm-houses and bought refreshments when we 
were hungry, and had a good time generally. 
Nellie rode my confiscated colt, and pronounced 
it a perfect gem. Dr. E. playfully said that he 
supposed she admired it because it was a rebel, 
and I suggested that he too must be a rebel, from 
the same premises. 

Time passed away pleasantly until we drew 
near to Yorktown, where sad memories interrupted 
the animated conversation. Nellie was near her 



256 RETURN TO NEWPORT NEWS. 

former home, with all its pleasant and sad associa- 
tions. We visited the grave of Lieutenant Y. I 
could but rejoice that he had been taken away 
from the evil to come. He had been saved from 
all those terrible marches and horrible battles, and 
from this distressing and humiliating retreat. We 
hitched our horses and remained some time there, 
some of the party gathering the rich, ripe fruit, 
which hung in abundance from the peach trees 
around us. Before leaving, we all bowed around 
the grave of our friend. Chaplain B. offered up 
an ardent prayer that we might all be faithful, and 
follow the example of our departed loved one, as 
he had followed Christ, and meet him where war 
and strife would be heard no more. 

I know thou art gone to a clime of light, 

To a world of joy and love, 
Beyond the reach of the sunbeam's flight, 

In the shadowless above. • 

And I will rejoice in thy smiles again, \ 

And hap'ly thy whisper hear; 
Dispelling the gloom of sorrow and pain, 

When the twilight of death is near. 

We stopped at a farm-house one evening during 
our march, and engaged lodgings for the night. 
The house was very large, and afforded ample ac- 
commodations. It was the first one on the Penin- 
sula at which I had seen a strong, healthy-looking 
man, attending to his fiirm as if there was no such 
thing as war in the land. The lady of the house 
was an active, business-like sort of woman, and 



SUSPICIOUS QUARTERS. 257 

went to work to make us comfortable. But there 
was evidently something in or about that house 
which was not just right — and we had not been 
there long when I detected suspicious move- 
ments, and drew the attention of Dr. E. to the 
fact. The man seemed very uneasy and restless, 
going from one room to another, shutting the 
doors very carefully behind him, carrying parcels 
up stairs in a half frightened way which increased 
our suspicion. I proposed to our little party that 
they should remain while I rode back to the army 
for a detachment of the provost-guard. My pro- 
posal was agreed to, and I started bxick in the 
direction of the main column. 

The family seemed alarmed, and asked a great 
many questions concerning my departure, to which 
I replied : '^ 1 am only going a short distance ; I 
^shall probably be back by the time supper is 
ready." I made all haste after I disappeared 
from view of the house, and in an hour 1 was on 
my way back again, having succeeded in finding 
the provost-marshal, and getting a corporal and 
six men to go with me. They entered the house 
boldly, and told the inmates that they had been 
informed that there were rebels concealed in the 
house, and they had come for the purpose of 
searching it ; adding, that they would not disturb 
anything, if their suspicions were unfounded. 

The lady said that she had some sick persons in 

the house, and did not wish them disturbed, as- 
17 



258 SEARCHING THE HOUSE. 

suring them that her family were all Union, and 
they would not harbor any rebels whatever. But 
all her excuses and pretensions did not deter the 
guard from accomplishing their object. So march- 
ing up stairs, they searched every room. In one 
room were found four rebel soldiers, or guerillas^ 
all of whom pretended to be very ill. Dr. E. was 
called to examine the patients, and pronounced 
them well as he was. In another room were two 
officers ; they made no excuse at all, but said that 
they were the landlord's sons ; had been in the 
rebel service, and were now home on furlough. 
They said they had been home ever since Stuart's 
cavalry raid at White House, and were waiting 
for another such dash in order to get back again. 

The provost-guard marched them all back to 
headquarters, which was in the saddle, and our 
little party thought proper to take shelter that 
night under the wing of the main column, instead 
of at a farm-house where we were not sure but 
that our lives would pay for that piece of infor- 
mation gi^^en, before morning. 

The army marched on until it reached the trans- 
ports. Some embarked at Yorktown, some at 
Newport News, and others at Fortress Monroe. 
The troops were literally worn out and discour- 
aged, caring but little where they went, or what 
they did. They were huddled on board of trans- 
ports, and were landed at Aquia Creek. 

General McClellan finding his army, as he had 



THANKS TO THE ARMY. 259 

anticipated, much depressed and discouraged in 
consequence of the retreat from the Peninsula, 
sent the following appeal to General Halleck : 
" Please say a kind word to my army, that I can 
repeat to them in general orders, in regard to 
their conduct at Yorktown, Williamsburg, West 
Point, Hanover Court-house, and on the Chicka- 
hominy, as well as in regard to the Seven Days, 
and the recent retreat. No one has ever said any- 
thing to cheer them but myself Say nothing 
about me ; merely give my men and officers credit 
for what they have done. They deserve it." 

The Army of the Potomac had performed an 
enormous amount of labor in making entrench- 
ments, constructing roads, bridges, etc., and did 
it with the most gratifying cheerfulness and devo- 
tion to the interests of the service. During the 
entire campaign they had fought ten severely con- 
tested battles, and had beaten the enemy on every 
occasion, showing the most determined bravery 
and invincible qualities it was possible for an army 
'to exhibit. They had submitted to exposure, sick- 
ness and death, without a murmur ; and they de- 
served the thanks of the government and the peo- 
ple for their services. 

On arriving at Aquia Creek, we found ourselves 
the victims of another rainstorm. Five of us went 
on board of a little steam-tug, and thus escaped a 
severe drenching during the night, for we had not 
yet seen our tents. When morning came we were 



2G0 AT AQUIA CREEK. 

treated to breakfast, and the captain was very kind 
indeed. We were just congratulating ourselves 
on our good fortune, when we discovered that all 
our little valuables, relics which we had brought 
from the Peninsula, toilet arrangements, and even 
our Bibles, had been stolen while we were asleep. 
Nellie and I were indulging in some uncharitable 
remaFks concerning those persons upon whose 
hospitality we had fared sumptuously and slept 
comfortably, and who had so generously refused 
to take any remuneration in the shape of green- 
backs,, but who had helped themselves to things 
more precious to us than money, when good Chap- 
lain B. entered just in time ta catch the most un- 
christian-like sentence we had uttered, and forth- 
with gave us a lecture upon the heinous sin of 
ingratitude. When he had concluded, instead of 
saying amen, I said : '^from such hospitality in fu- 
ture, good Lord deliver us." 

We did not remain long at Aquia Creek, but 
were ordered to embark immediately for Alexan- 
dria, Virginia. When we arrived there. Pope's 
army was in danger of annihilation ; and, conse- 
quently, as fast as the Army of the Potomac ar- 
rived, it was ordered to Pope^s assistance ; one 
portion in one direction, and another in another 
direction, until it was cut up into sections, and 
General McClellan was left at Washington, with- 
out an army or anything to command except his 
Btaflf. 



CHAPTER XX. 

pope's army A general's request AGAIN A CONTRABAND — 

ENTERING THE REBEL LINES AS A SPY MY ESCAPE TO THE 

FEDERAL LINES IN PERIL KEARNEY KILLED CRAWLING 

THROUGH THE WOODS BURIAL OF A PICKET LOOKING FOR 

A GENERAL MR. NEGATIVE MC CLELLAN AND POPE THE 

BATTLE OF ANTIETAM A TOUCHING DEATH-SCENE AN IN- 
TERESTING PATIENT BURIAL OF A FEMALE SOLDIER. 

IMMEDIATELY after arriving at Alexandria, I 
started for the battle-field, where a portion of 
McClellan's army had gone to reinforce Pope. Ev- 
erything seemed to be in a confused state. There 
was no definite information with regard to the 
force of the enemy in that direction, and it seemed 
impossible to obtain any from reliable sources. 
McClellan's troops were ordered to ihe front, un^ 
der new commanders, just as they came off the 
transports in which they arrived from the Penin- 
sula, without any rest, or a proper supply of cloth- 
ing, shoes, or blankets; all of which they much 
needed, after such a march as they had just accom- 
plished. 

While the battle raged, and the roar of cannon 
was reverberating over the National Capital, 
McClellan sent the following request to Gen- 
eral Halleck : ''I cannot express to you the 
pain and mortification I have experienced to-day. 



262 AGAIN A CONTRABAND. 

in listening to the distant firing of my men. As 
I can be of no further use here, I respectfully ask 
that, if there is a probability of the conflict being 
renewed to-morrow, I may be permitted to go to 
the scene of battle with my staff, merely to be with 
my own men, if nothing more. They will fight 
none the worse for my being with them. If it is 
not deemed best to intrust me with the command 
even of my own army, I simply ask to be permit 
ted to share their fiite on the field of battle." 

The troops under Pope were several days in the 
vicinity of the Shenandoah Valley, with no rations 
but those they found in the fields, such as fruit, 
green corn, and vegetables. They certainly were 
in a poor condition to fight, and there was evi- 
dently a lack of that cheerful, enthusiastic spirit, 
which had characterized them on the Peninsula. 

I was ordered by General PL to pass the rebel 
lines, and return as soon as possible. I took the 
train at Warrenton Junction, went to Washington, 
procured a disguise, that of a female contraband, 
and returned the same night. I passed through 
the enemy's lines in company with nine contra- 
bands, men, women, and children, who preferred 
to live in bondage with their friends, rather than 
to be free without them. I had no difficulty what- 
ever in getting along, for I, with several others, 
was ordered to headquarters to cook rations 
enough, the rebels said, to last them until they 
reached Washington. 



IN PERIL. 263 

The officers generally talked in low tone^^, but 
would sometimes become excited, forget that there 
were darkies around, and would speak their minds 
freely. When I had been there a few hours, I 
had obtained the very information which I had 
been sent for. I had heard the plan of the mor- 
row discussed, the number of troops at several 
important points, and the number expected to ar^ 
rive during the night ; and this, too, from the lips 
of the commanding general and his staif. 

The rebel lines were guarded so strongly and 
so faithfully, that I did not dare to return that 
night, but waited anxiously for the dawn of the 
morrow. 

Early on the following morning, while assisting 
the cook to carry in breakfast, I removed a coat 
from a camp-stool which stood in my way, and a 
number of papers fell from its pockets, which I 
instantly transferred to my own. I then hurried 
my arrangements in the tent, lest the documents 
should be missed before I could make my escape. 
Breakfast was announced, and I suddenly disap- 
peared. 

Going toward the picket line nearest the Fed- 
erals, and seeing an old house in the distance, I 
went and hid myself in the cellar. Soon, firing 
commenced in different directions, and grew hotter 
and hotter, until the shot and shell began to shake 
the old house in which I had taken refuge, and 
by and by it came tumbling down around me. A 



264 ESCAPE TO THE FEDERAL LINES. 

part of the floor was broken down, but still I re- 
mained unharmed, and did not attempt to leave 
the ruins. I remembered that good old Elijah 
remained in the cave during the tempest, the 
earthquake and the fire, and afterward came the 
.still small voice. So I waited patiently for the 
still small voice, and felt secure ; knowing that 
the Lord was a sure refuge, and could protect me 
there as well as in a drawing-room in the quiet 
city. 

It was not long before deliverance came, and 
the rebels were obliged to fall back and take a 
new position. When the firing ceased, I was 
safely within the Federal lines. I went immedi- 
ately to headquarters, and reported myself as hav- 
ing just returned from rebeldom ; gave a brief 
relation of my experience, and delivered the docu- 
ments which I had brought from rebel headquar- 
ters. These proved to be orders intended for the 
different corps commanders, with instructions how 
and when to move, so as to act in concert with 
the entire plan of the morrow, and insure the cap. 
ture of Washington. 

During those battles and skirmishes of Pope's 
memorable campaign, I visited the rebel generals 
three times at their own camp-fires, within a period 
of ten days, and came away with valuable informa- 
tion, unsuspected and unmolested. 

While the second battle of Bull Run was in pro- 
gress, I was a part of the time with the Confeder- 



KEARNEY KILLED. ' 265 

ates, and then back again to the Federals, having 
made my escape while the battle raged most 
fiercely by concealing myself in a ravine, and 
watching until the rebels charged upon a battery. 
While they were engaged in a hand-to-hand fight^ 
I escaped unobserved by friend or foe. 

The last of these visits was made the night be- 
fore the battle of Chentilla, in which the brave 
Kearney was killed. I was within a few rods of 
him when he fell, and was in the act of returning 
to the Union camp under cover of the extreme 
darkness of that never-to-be-forgotten night. I 
saw him ride up to the line, but supposed nim to 
be a rebel officer until the pickets fired at him, and 
even then I thought they had fired at me, until I 
saw him fall from his horse, and heard their ex- 
clamations of joy when they discovered who he 
was ; for the one-armed general was known through- 
out both armies for his bravery and brilliant ca- 
reer, and the name of Kearney had become a word 
of terror to the rebels. 

When I learned who was their victim, I regret- 
ed that it had not been me instead of him, whom 
they had discovered and shot. I would willingly 
have died to save such a general to the Union 
army. But he was taken, while I, poor insignifi- 
cant creature, was left ; but left with a heart and 
soul as fully devoted to the Union cause as Kear- 
ney's was ; only lacking the ability to accomplish 
the same results. 



26G BURYING A PICKET. 

I lost no time in making good my escape, while 
the attention of the pickets were drawn in another 
direction. When I came to our lines, I found it 
almost as difficult to get through as I had found 
it on the other side. The night was so dark I 
could not make any sign by which the pickets 
could recognize me, and I was in the depths of 
the forest, where the rustling of the leaves and the 
crackling of dry branches under my feet betrayed 
my foot-steps as I went along. However, after 
crawling up pretty close to the line, and getting 
behind a tree to screen me from the bullets, if they 
should fire, I managed to make myself understood. 
The picket said : '' All right," and I passed through 
in safety. 

Coming within the lines, I saw a group of men 
kneeling on the ground digging a grave with their 
bayonets, with the least possible noise ; for the 
picket lines were within half musket shot of each 
other. One of their comrades had been killed, 
and they were thus preparing his last resting-place. 

They buried liim darkl}^ at dead of night, 
The turf with their bayonets turning. 

But there were no "struggling moonbeams," or 
glimmering stars, to shed a ray of light upon the 
midnight gloom of that solitary funeral — naught 
save the vivid flashes of lurid flame which the 
lightning cast upon the sad scene, lighting up for 
a moment the surrounding forest, and then dying 
away, leaving the darkness more intolerable. 



MR. NEGATIVE. 267 

We may well say of such as die at their post : 

Sweet be the death of those 

Who for tlieir country die ; 
Sleep on her bosom for repose, 

And triumph where they Ue. 

After reaching headquarters and donning an- 
other costume, I was dispatched to Washington 
with official documents to McClellan, who was 
now in command of the defenses of the Capital, 
and had control of all the troops who came 
streaming in from the disastrous battle-field. I 
arrived in the city just as the morning light was 
breaking, drenched from head to foot, and looking 
as if mud was my native element. 

Making my way to where I supposed headquar- 
ters to be, I saw an important looking individual 
near by, whom I addressed, and inquired if he 
could tell me where General McClellan was to be 
found? " No, I can not." Could he tell me when 
he was expected at headquarters? "No." Was 
there any person there of whom I could inquire ? 
" Not a person." Did he know of any place where 
the necessary information could be obtained ? ' ' Not 
a place." Could he make any suggestion, or throw 
the least ray of light upon the subject, which 
might lead to the whereabouts of the general ? 
"Not the sHghtest." 

Turning away in disgust, I said to the man, 
" Well, good-by, Mr. Negative. I hope the effort 
which you have made to assist me will not injure 



268 MC CLELLAN AND POPE* 

you mentally or physically;" and so saying I rode 
away, feeling that if I was as big as he imagined 
himself, and as strong as he was indifferent, I 
would give him a vigorous shaking before leaving 
him. 

I went next to General H.'s headquarters. No 
one there could tell me anything more vie finite than 
that the general had been gone all night, carrying 
out General Halleck's orders and making the best 
possible disposition of the troops as fast as they 
came in, for the whole army was now in full re- 
treat. After two hours search I fou id him, de- 
livered the despatches, and returned to Washing- 
ton, where I remained until the next day, being 
completely tired out, not having had a night's 
sleep for five nights previous. 

On the first of September, General McClellan 
had an interview with the President, who request- 
ed him to use all his influence with the Army of 
the Potomac to insure its hearty co-operation with 
General Pope's army. In compliance with the 
President's request, McClellan sent the following 
despatch to General Porter: "I ask of you, for 
my sake, that of the country, and the old Army 
of the Potomac, that you and all my friends will 
lend the fullest and most cordial co-operation to 
General Pope in all the operations now going on. 
The destinies of our country, the honor of our 
arms, are at stake, and all depends ur^^^'^ the 
cheerful co-operation of all in the field This 



THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 269 

week is the crisis of our fate. Say the same thing 
to my friends in the Army of the Potomac, and 
that the last request I have to make of them is, 
that, for their coui\try's sake, they will extend to 
General Pope the same support they ever have 
to me." 

Immediately aftei this followed the brilliant and 
triumphant victories at South Mountain and Antie- 
tam, which more than counterbalanced the disas- 
trous campaign of Pope, and which sent a thrill of 
joy throughout the ^orth. 

But in this, as in most other instances of 
earthly bliss, the joy was not unmixed with sor- 
row — sorrow for the noble dead and wounded 
upon those bloody fields. At the memorable bat- 
tle of Antietam there wore nearly two hundred 
thousand men and five hundred pieces oi' artillery 
engaged during a period o/ fourteen hours with- 
out cessation ; and at its termination two thousand 
seven hundred of the enemy's dead lay upvm the 
field. The report of the Fede:*al general in com- 
mand says: "Thirteen guns, thirty -nine colors, 
upwards of fifteen thousand stand of small arms, 
and more than six thousand prisoners, were the 
trophies which attest the success Ol* our army in 
the battles of South Mountain, Crampton's Gap, 
and Antietam. Not a single gun or color was lost 
by our army during these battles." 

At the close of the battle I stood by the side of 
a dying officer of one of the Massachusetts regi- 



270 TOUCHING DE^TH-SCENE. 

ments, who had passed through the thickest of the 
fight unhurt, but just at the close of the battle he 
was struck by a random shot which wounded him 
mortally. As he lay there, conscious of approach- 
ing death, the musicians of the regiment happened 
to pass by. He requested that they might be 
asked to play the "Star-Spangled Banner." They 
cheerfully complied with the dying man's request, 
and while they played the grand old tune his 
countenance beamed with joy. He inquired the 
result of the battle, and when told that it was a 
victory he exclaimed — " Oh ! it is glorious to die 
for one's country at such a time as this ! " Then 
turning to the chaplain he spoke in the most af- 
fecting manner ; he said his trust was in the Re- 
deem(3r; then he sent loving messages to his 
mother and friends at home. The chaplain road 
some comforting passages of Scripture and prayed 
with him, and soon after the happy spirit passed 
away. 

Some one very appropriately says : ** When 
such sacrifices are laid upon the altar of our coun- 
try, we have surely new incentives to uphold the 
cause for which they are made, and, with God's 
help, not to allow the treason which has slain so 
many victims, to accomplish its purpose. And, 
through this bloody baptism, shall not our nation 
be purified at length, and fitted to act a nobler 
part in the world's history ? " God grant it. 

In passing among the wounded after they had 



AN INTERESTING PATIENT. 271 

been carried from the field, my attention was at- 
tracted by the pale, sweet face of a youthful sol- 
dier who was severely wounded in the neck. The 
wound still bled profusely, and the boy was grow- 
ing faint from loss of blood. I stooped down and 
asked him if there was anything he would like to 
have done for him. The soldier turned a pair of 
beautiful, clear, intelligent eyes upon me for a 
moment in an earnest gaze, and then, as if satisfied 
with the scrutiny, said faintly : '' Yes, yes ; there 
is something to be done, and that quickly, for I 
am dying." 

Something in the tone and voice made me look 
more closely at the face of the speaker, and that 
look satisfied me that my suspicion was well found- 
ed. I went to one of the surgeons in attendance, 
and requested him to come and see my patient. 
He did so, and after a moment's examination of 
the wound told me that nothing could be done 
whatever to save him. He then left me, and I 
administered a little brandy and water to strength- 
en the wounded boy, for he evidently wished to 
tell me something that was on his mind before he 
died. The little trembling hand beckoned me 
closer, and I knelt down beside him and bent my 
head until it touched the golden locks on the pale 
brow before me ; I listened with breathless atten- 
tention to catch every sound which fell from those 
dying lips, the substance of which was as follows : 

" I can trust you, and will tell you a secret. I 



272 A FEMALE SOLDIER. 

am not what I seem, but am a female. I enlisted 
from the purest motives, and have remained un- 
discovered and unsuspected. I have neither fath- 
er, mother nor sister. My only brother was killed 
to-day. I closed his eyes about an hour before I 
was wounded. I shall soon be with him. I am a 
christian, and have maintained the christian charac- 
ter ever since I entered the army. I have performed 
the duties of a soldier faithfully, and am willing to 
die for the cause of truth and freedom. My trust 
is iu God, and I die in peace. I wish you to bury 
me with your own hands, that none may know 
after my death that I am other than my appear- 
ance indicates." Then looking at me again in 
that earnest, scrutinizing manner, she said: ''I 
know I can trust you — you will do as I have 
requested ? " 

I assured her that she might place implicit con- 
fidence in me, and that I would do as she had de- 
sired me. Then I sought out a chaplain, who 
came and prayed with her. She was calm and 
peaceful. I remained with her until she died, 
which was about an hour. Then making a grave 
for her under the shadow of a mulberry tree 
near the battle-field, apart from all others, with 
the assistance of two of the boys who were de« 
tailed to bury the dead, I carried her remains to 
that lonely spot and gave her a soldier's burial, 
without coffin or shroud, only a blanket for a 
winding-sheet. There she sleeps in that beautiful 



AFTER ANTIETAM. 273 

forest where the soft southern breezes sigh mourn 
fully through the foliage, and the little birds sing 
sweetly above her grave. 

Her race is run. In Southern clime 

She rests among tlie brave ; 
"Where perfumed blossoms gently fall, 

Like tears, around her grave. 

No loving friends are near to weep 

Or plant bright flowers there ; 
But birdliugscliant a requiem sweet, 

And strangers breathe a prayer. 

She sleeps in peace; yes, sweetly sleeps, 

Her sorrows all are o'er ; 
With her the storms of life are past: 

She 's found the heavenly shore. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

4FTER ANTIETAM SURGEONS ON THE FIELD THE HOSPITALS 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL DWIGHT MORTALLY WOUNDED A BRU- 
TAL SURGEON A WOUNDED CAPTAIN AGONY FROM THIRST 

CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS PRAYING AND FIGHTING FOPS ON 

THE FIELD A REBEL PROGRAMME — PENNSYLVANIA TO BE 

STRIPPED CAMP LIFE — DAILY ROUTINE — BURIAL SERVICES. 

AFTER the battle of Antietam, one of the 
chaplains who was on the field paid a fitting 
tribute to the colonel commanding the regiment to 
which he belonged, and vividly described many 
scenes that came under my own observation on 
that day, he says : 

" How faithfully many a surgeon labored ! Our 

18 



274 THE HOSPITALS. 

own assistant surgeon was a hero ; regardless of 
bullets in the hottest fire, he kept coolly on in his 
work, while near by Dr. Kendall, of the Twelfth 
Massachusetts, was killed. The nearest hospital, 
that of our own corps, was necessarily in range of 
the enemy's shell, which every now and then fell 
around and beyond. Near by were five other 
hospitals, all for one wing. Here were generals 
and privates brought together. General Mansfield 
I saw dying, and a few feet off, an unknown pri- 
vate ; General Hartsuff badly wounded, and by 
his side a throng of others now on the same level. 
There is no distinction as to what body or soul 
needs then. 

"Our own regiment helped to fill these hospi- 
tals. Our gallant dead are remembered with all 
the other dead of Massachusetts. But one we 
lost, hard to replace : Our brilliant, brave, gener- 
ous, kind-hearted Lieut. -Colonel Wilder D wight, 
shot mortally, but living two days. Of wonderful 
promise at home, cheerful, resigned, strong in 
faith and trust, ready to die ; his only wish being 
to see his father and mother. While lying in the 
garden, moved only on a stretcher, he sent our 
own surgeon to relieve the wounded who were 
lying all around, the surgeons being occupied in 
amputating limbs of men in the hospitals; and 
again and again sent water provided for himself to 
the poor fellows calling for it. Yet Colonel Dwight 
was not free from brutal insolence. While waiting 



A BRUTAL SURGEON. 275 

there in the night for an ambulance in which to 
place him, only for shelter, suddenly a harsh voice 
insisted on turning him out with all our men. 

"I found a pompous little surgeon angry and 
furious. I informed him why the men were there, 
assured him of their good behavior, and requested 
permission for them to remain as we were momen- 
tarily expecting the ambulance. It was all in 
vain. Colonel Dwight himself was treated most 
harshly, although of higher rank than the brute 
himself; and notwithstanding I told the surgeon he 
was mortally wounded, he ordered the guard to 
turn them out at the point of the bayonet, and to 
prevent their return even to remove Colonel 
Dwight; refusing to tell his rank and even his 
name, until I obtained it of another party. The 
men were driven away while actually giving water 
to the wounded who had been calling in vain for 
help. I assured him I would take care that his 
conduct was made known, knowing from several 
scenes I had witnessed that day that he was, from 
brutality, pomposity and harshness, utterly unfit to 
be in charge of wounded men, and from gross dis- 
respect to an officer higher in rank, unfit to be in 
the army. This fellow was a medical director in 
General Reynolds' corps, Pennsylvania Reserves," 
and the writer adds, '' too good a corps to have 
such a fellow among them." 

The ordinary scene which presents itself after 
the strife of arms has ceased, is familiar to every 



276 AGONY FROM THIRST. 

one. Heaps of slain, where friend and foe lie side 
by side, mangled bodies, shrieks and groans of the 
wounded and dying, are things which we always 
associate with the victories and defeats of war. 
But we seldom expect or hear of songs of praise 
and shouts of triumph from dying lips on the 
dreadful battle-field. The following account was 
received from the lips of a brave and pious cap- 
tain in one of the Western regiments, as some 
friends were conveying him to a hospital from 
the battle-field: 

" The man had been shot through both thighs 
with a rifle bullet ; it was a wound from which he 
could not recover. While lying on the field he 
suffered intense agony from thirst. He supported 
his head upon his hand, and the rain from heaven 
was falling around him. In a short time a little 
pool of water collected near his elbow, and he 
thought if he could reach that spot he might allay 
his raging thirst. He tried to get into a position 
which would enable him to obtain a mouthful of 
the muddy water, but in vain ; and he must suffer 
the torture of seeing the means of relief within 
sight, while all his efforts were unavailing. 

" 'Never,' said he, 'did I feel so much the loss 
of any earthly blessing. By and by the shades of 
niffht fell around us, and the stars shone out clear 
and beautiful above the dark field, where so many 
others lay wounded, writhing in pain or faint from 
loss of blood. Thus situated, I began to tliink of 



CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. 277 

the great God who had given His son to die a 
death of agony for me, and that He was in the 
heavens to which my eyes were turned ; that He 
; was there above that scene of suffering and above 
y those glorious stars ; and I felt that 1 was hasten- 
> ing home to meet Him, and praise Him there. I 
f felt that I ought to praise Him then, even wound- 
' ed as I was, on the battle-field. I could not help 
] singing that beautiful hymn — 

" * When I can read my title clear 

To mansions in the skies, 
I'll bid farewell to every fear, 

And wipe my weeping ej^es.' 

" ' And though I was not aware of it till then/ " 
he continued, "'it proved there was a christian 
brother in the thicket near me. I could not see 
him, but was near enough to hear him. He took 
up the strain from me, and beyond him another, 
and another, caught the words, and made them 
resound far and wide over the terrible battle-field. 
There was a peculiar echo in the place, and that 
added to the effect, as we made the night vocal 
with our hymns of praise to God.' " 

The presence of such men in the army, animated 
by faith in God, and conscious of serving Him in 
serving their country, adds materially to its ele- 
ments of strength and success. " The religious 
element has always been acknowledged as a great 
power in military success. The more intelligent 
that principle is, the more efficient it must be in 



278 PRAYING AND FIGHTING. 

securing this result. There is every reason, natu- 
ral as well as rational, why those who hold their 
lives in their hand should acknowledsre the God 
of battle, and pray for themselves and their coun- 
try in the midst of danger. The simplest expres- 
sion of the relations of praying and fighting was, 
perhaps, the blunt order of the puritan chief, ''Put 
your trust in God, and keep your powder dry.'' 
Cromwell and his praying puritans were danger- 
ous men to meet in battle. " The sword of the 
Lord and of Gideon was exceeding sharp, tem- 
pered as it was by hourly prayers." Who can but 
admire the sublime spectacle which Gustavus Adol- 
phus and his vast army presented on the eve of 
the battle of Lutzen, in which the King fell, pray- 
ing on bended knees, and then chanting : 

Be of good cheer; your cause belongs 
To Him who can avenge your wrongs; 
Leave it to Him our Lord. 

The King fell, but the battle was gloriously won. 
"And so," says a writer upon this subject, "un- 
less we are untrue to our better nature, it must 
ever be. Before going into battle, the foolish, 
wicked oath is silent. With the bracing of the 
nerves for the shock of battle, there goes up a 
silent prayer for strength, and vrlo and deliver- 
ance. The wounded pray to be saved from death; 
the dying recall the words of old petitions learned 
in childhood, and in those broken accents commit 
their souls to God." 



FOPS ON THE FIELD. 279 

The only amusing incident after a battle is, the 
crowd of spectators from Washington and other 
places. If they are in carriages, their vehicles are 
sure to get smashed, and then the trouble arises, 
what are they to do with their baggage ? Carry 
it, of course, or leave it behind. Even the wound- 
ed soldiers cannot help laughing at their sorry 
plight, gesticulations, and absurd questions. 

Among all this class of individuals, there are 
none to be compared with government clerks for 
importance and absurdity. On one of these occa- 
sions I remember of a number of those pompous 
creatures being distressed beyond measure, be- 
cause they could not return to Washington on a 
train which was crowded beyond description with 
the wounded. After the cars moved off there they 
stood gazing after it in the most disconsolate man- 
ner. Said one, " I came out here by invitation 
of the Secretary of War, and now I must return 
on foot, or remain here." One of the soldiers con- 
temptuously surveyed him from head to foot, as 
he stood there with kid gloves, white bosom, stand- 
ing collar, etc., in all the glory and finery of a 
brainless fop, starched up for display. "Well," 
said the soldier, " we don't know any such indi- 
vidual as the Secretary of War out here, but I 
guess we can find you something to do ; perhaps 
you would take a fancy to one of these muskets," 
laying his hand on a pile beside him. 

The clerk turned away in disgust, and disdain- 



280 A REBEL PROCiRAMME. 

ing to reply to the soldier, he inquired, " But 
where shall I sleep to-night?" The soldier re- 
plied, "Just where you please, chummy; there is 
lots of room all around here," pointing to a spot 
of ground which was not occupied by the wound ^ 
ed. A chaplain stepped up to him, and said: " If 
you wish to sleep, there is some hay you can 
have ; " and went on to give him a brief lecture 
upon the impropriety of a young man, in perfect 
health, just fresh from the city, talking about com- 
fortable lodgings, and a place to sleep, when so 
many wounded and dying lay all around him. He 
was horrified, a'ld disappeared immediately. 

Before the rabels attempted to cross into Mary- 
land in force, the Richmond papers were full of 
editorials, of which the following is a specimen : 

'' Let not a blade of grass, or a stalk of corn, or 
a barrel of flour, or a bushel of meal, or a sack of 
salt, or a horse, or a cow, or a hog, or a sheep, be 
left wherever the Confederate troops move along. 
Let vengeance be taken for all that has been done, 
until retribution itself shall stand aghast. This is 
the country of the would-be-gentleman, McClellan. 
He has caused a loss to us, in Virginia, of at least 
thirty thousand negroes, the most valuable prop- 
erty that a Virginian can own. They have no 
negroes in Pennsylvania. Retaliation, therefore, 
must fall upon something else. A Dutch far- 
mer has no negroes, but he has horses that 
can be seized, grain that can be confiscated. 



CAMP LIFE. 281 

cattle that can be killed, and houses that can be 
burned. " 

But when they really attempted to accomplish 
these feats, and found with whom they had to con^ 
tend, they were very glad to re-cross the Potomac, 
without confiscating property or burning houses, 
and to escape, leaving their dead and wounded on 
the field. 

After the battle of Antietam, the army was not 
in a condition to follovv up the rebels ; but as soon 
as the Capital was safe, and the rebels were driven 
from Maryland and Pennsylvania, vigorous efforts 
were made to recruit, clothe, and reorganize the 
army. Harper's Ferry was again occupied, every 
weak point strengthened, and all the ford^were 
strongly guarded. While the army thus remained 
inactive for a few weeks, camp duties and disci- 
pline were again strictly enforced and attended to. 

I would not have my readers think that camp- 
life in the army is so very unpleasant, after all. I 
do not think so, for I have spent some of the 
pleasantest, happiest hours of my life in camp, and 
I think thousands can give the same testimony. 

One of our good chaplains from the North says 
that even the city of New York itself can bear no 
favorable comparison to military life in the Army 
of the Potomac. ''After all," he says: "New 
York is a humbug compared with the army. It 
is tattoo, as I write ; what music it is, compared 
with the nuisance noises of those city streets! 



282 DAILY ROUTINE. 

Our candles are not brilliant ; but the sight of the 
lights of the camps all around, is more pleasant 
than the glare of the city gas. The air is the pure 
air of heaven, not the choky stuff of the metropo- 
lis. The men are doing something noble, not 
dawdling away these glorious days in selling tape 
and ribbons. The soldier lives to some purpose, 
and if he dies it is a hero's death. The silks of 
that wealthy mart may be coveted by some ; but 
what are the whole to our bullet-riddled old flag, 
which passed from the stiffening hands of one color- 
bearer to another, in the days of many a battle ? " 

To give my reader a more definite idea of the 
routine of camp life, I will enter into a detail of 
it more fully. At sunrise reveille beats, drum 
echoing to drum until the entire encampment is 
astir, and busy as a bee-hive. Roll-call immedi- 
ately follows, which brings every man to his place 
in the ranks, to answer to his name. An hour 
later breakfast call is sounded by fife and drum, 
and the company cooks, who are detailed for that 
purpose, deal out the rations to the men as they 
sit or stand around the cook's quarters. 

At half-past seven o'clock sick call announces 
to surgeons and patients that they are expected 
to appear at the dispensing tent — if able to go 
there. Then comes a general examination of 
tongues and pulses, and a liberal distribution of 
quinine and blue pills, and sometimes a little eau 
de vie^ to wash down the bitter drugs. 



ETC. 283 

Guard mounting at eight, which is an imposing 
affair in itself. The band marches to the usual 
2)lace of dress parade and strikes up some appro- 
priate piece, which is the signal for the regimental 
details to march to the place of inspection. The 
line is formed, arms inspected, and general ap- 
pearance noted. Then the men are marched in 
review, and divided into three reliefs — one of 
which is marched to the post of each sentinel, 
where, after various important conferences, the old 
sentinel is relieved and the new one takes his 
place, and so on around the whole camp. The 
old guard is then marched to their quarters and 
formally dismissed, having been on duty two hours 
out of every six during the last twenty-four hours. 

At nine o'clock the music sounds for company 
drill, which drill lasts an hour and a half The 
bu2:le announces dinner at one o'clock. 

At three in the afternoon battalion drill com- 
mences, Avhich occupies an hour. At half-past 
four is heard the first call for evening parade, and 
at five o'clock comes off the great display of the 
day — dress parade. 

Supper at six, tattoo at half past eight, and roll- 
call again at nine ; immediately after which comes 
"taps" on the drum, which means "lights out." 

But between all these calls drills and parades 
are more interesting services and duties. Away 
in one corner of the camp is our canvas or log 
meeting-house, and besides our regular preaching, 



284 A soldier's burial. 

we have conference and prayer meetings, debating 
clubs, military lectures, and numerous musical en- 
tertainments. 

Then, too, comes visiting the sick in different 
hospitals, distribution of reading matter and deli- 
cacies, and the blessed privilege of religious con- 
versation. And often the solemn services in 
connection with burying the dead. I will here 
give a brief description of this service : 

The burial of a soldier in camp is a most solemn 
scene. A suitable escort is formed in two ranks 
opposite the tent of the deceased, with shouldered 
arms and bayonets unfixed. On the appearance 
of the coffin the soldiers present arms. The pro^ 
cession then forms — on each side of the coffin are 
the pall-bearers without muskets — and the escort 
moves forward with arms reversed, viz. : musket 
under the left arm, barrel downward, and steadied 
behind the back with the right hand. The band 
marches in front, with slow and measured tread 
and muffled drum they move, pouring gut their 
melancholy wailings for the dead — a sadder dirge 
than which never fell upon mortal ear. 

On reaching the place of interment the coffin is 
lowered into the grave, the soldiers leaning upon 
their muskets, muzzle downward, the hands clasped 
upon the butt of their guns, with heads uncov- 
ered and reverently bowed upon their hands. The 
chaplain, who has walked in the rear of the pro- 
cession, conducts the burial rervice, at the end of 



warrior's dirge. 285 

which three volleys are fired over the grave, the 
trench is filled up, and the soldiers return to duty. 

Warrior, rest I thy toils are ended : 

Life's last fearlui slrile is u'er; 
Clarion-calls, with death-notes blended, 

Shall disturb thine ear no more 1 
Peaceful is thy dreamless slumber; 

Peaceful, but how cold and stern 1 
Thou hast joined that silent number 

In the laud whence none return ! 

Warrior, rest I thy banner o'er thee 

Hangs in many a drooping fold; 
Many a manly cheek before thee 

Stain'd with tear-drops we beholds 
Thine was not a hand to falter 

When thy sword should leave its sheath: 
Thine was not a cheek to alter, 
Though thy duty led to death 1 

Warrior, rest I a dirge is knelling 

Solemnly from shore to shore: 
'T is a nation's tribute, telling 

That a pattiot is no more ! 
And th}'- young bride weeps in sorrow 

That no more she hears thy tread ; 
That the night which knows no morrow 

Darkly veils thy laurel'd head 1 

Warrior, rest I we smooth thy pillow, 

For thy last, long earthly sleep ; 
And beneath yon verdant willow 

Storms unheard will o'er thee sweep I 
There, 't is done ! thy couch awaits thee! 

Softly down thy head we lay ; 
Here repose, till God translates thee 

From the dust to endless dayl 



CHAPTER XXII. 

A MILITARY EXECUTION THE PREPARATIONS THE DEATH 

harper's ferry OLD JOHN BROWN CONTRAST ADVANCE 

INTO VIRGINIA CONDITION OF THE ARMY A DREARY RIDE 

A GREEN GUARD SEEKING SHELTER A GUERRILLA FIGHT 

MY HORSE KILLED PLAYING POSSUM MY POCKETS PICKED 

~-A NARROW ESCAPE RETURN TO CAMP AV INTERESTING 

MEETING. 

ABOUT this time one of those horrible and 
soul-revolting sights, a " military execution," 
took place ; in other words, a soldier was shot in 
cold blood by his comrades. I did not witness the 
execution, although it occurred within a short dis- 
tance of camp, and I give the particulars relating 
to it from the record of the chaplain who attended 
the unhappy man to the place of execution : 

"A painful episode, the first of the kind I have 
witnessed, took place last Friday. It was a mili- 
tary execution. The person thus punished be- 
longed to the Third Maryland, which is in our 
division. On Tuesday last his sentence was for- 
mally read to him. He was to be shot to death 
with musketry on the next Friday, between the 
hours of noon and four in the afternoon. He had 
learned the decision on the Sunday before. The 
day of his execution was wet and gloomy. That 



A MILITARY EXECUTION. 28'^ 

morning, in the midst of the provost guard, he was 
sitting on a bag of grain, leaning against a tree, 
while a sentry with fixed baj^onet stood behind, 
never turning away from him, save as another took 
his place. Useless seemed the watch, for arms and 
feet had been secured, though not painfully, since 
the sentence was read. The captain of the guard 
had humanely done all he could, and it was partly 
by his request that I was there. A chaplain could 
minister where others would not be allowed. The 
rain fell silently on him ; the hours of his life 
were numbered, even the minutes. He was to 
meet death, not in the shock and excitement of 
battle, not as a martyr for his country, not in 
disease, but in full health, and as a criminal. I 
have seen many a man die, and have tried to per- 
form the sacred duties of my station. I never had 
so painful a task as this, because of these circum- 
stances. Willingly, gladly, he conversed, heard 
and answered. While such a work is painful, yet 
it has its bright side, because of the ' exceeding 
great and precious promises' it is one's privilege 
to tell. 

''When the time came for removal to the place 
of execution, he entered an ambulance, the chap- 
lain accompanying him. Next, in another ambu- 
lance, was the coffin ; before, behind, and on either 
side a guard. Half a mile of this sad journey 
brought him within a short distance of the spot. 
Then leaving the ambulance, he walked to the 



288 THE DEATH. 

place selected. The rain had ceased, the sun was 
shining on the dark lines of the whole division 
drawn up in three sides of a hollow square. With 
guard in front and rear, he passed with steady 
step to the open side of the square, accompanied 
by the chaplain. There was a grave dug, and 
in front of it was his coffin. He sat upon the 
coffin ; his feet were reconfined, to allow of which 
he lifted them voluntarily, and then his eyes were 
bandaged. In front of him the firing party, of two 
from each regiment, were then drawn up, half held 
in reserve, during which there was still a little 
time for words with his chaplain. 

" The General (not McClellan) stood by, and 
the Provost Marshal read the sentence and 
shook hands with the condemned. Then a pray- 
er was offered, amid uncovered heads and sol- 
emn faces. A last hand-shake with the chap- 
lain, which he had twice requested ; a few words 
from him to the chaplain ; a lingering pressure by 
the hand of the condemned, his lips moving with 
a prayer-sentence which he had been taught, and 
on which his thoughts had dwelt before ; and he 
was left alone. The word of command was imme- 
diately given. One volley, and he fell over in- 
stantly, unconscious. A record of the wounds 
were made by the surgeons who immediately ex- 
amined him. The troops filed by his grave, and 
returned by the way they came. He left a mother 
and sister, and was twenty years of age." 



AT harper's ferry. 289 

Soon after I spent a night at Harper's Ferry. 
John Brown is still remembered there, and the 
soldiers go round singing ^' His soul goes marching 
on." That medley of a song does not seem so 
senseless after all, for the spirit of John Brown 
does seem to march along wonderfally fast, and 
our troops are becoming imbued with it to a great- 
er extent than is generally supposed. 

I also visited the court-house, where public ser- 
vice was held by a Massachusetts chaplain in the 
very room where John Brown was tried, convicted 
and sentenced. There was the spot where he had 
lain upon his litter. There in front of tlie judge's 
platform were the juror's seats. The chair which 
the judge had occupied was now tenanted by an 
abolition preacher. Oh ! if old John Brown had 
only lived to see that day ! but he is gone, and 

His soul goes marching on. 

On the 25th of October, the pontoon bridges 
being completed at Harper's Ferry and at Berlin, 
the army once more advanced into Virginia. The 
ninth corps and Pleasanton's cavalry occupied 
Lovettsville, a pretty little village reminding one 
of New England. The army was now in admira- 
ble condition and fine spirits, and enjoyed this 
march exceedingly, scarcely a man dropping out 
of the ranks for any cause whatever, but entering 
into the spirit of the campaign with an energy 
which surpassed all their former enthusiasm. As 
the army marched rapidly over the country from 



290 ADVANCE INTO VIRGINIA. 

village to village, the advance guard driving the 
enemy's pickets from one covert to another, many- 
thrilling adventures occurred, several of which 
came under my own observation, and as I am ex- 
pected particularly to relate those in which I was 
personally concerned, I will here relate one which 
came very near being my last on this side the 
'^ river." 

On the morning of the third day after we left 
Lovettsville I was sent back to headquarters, 
which was said to be some twelve miles in the 
rear. I was then with the advance guard, and 
when they started forward at daylight I went to 
the rear. In order to go more quickly I left all 
my traps in an ambulance — blankets, overcoat 
and grain, excepting enough to feed once. Then 
starting at a brisk canter I soon lost sight of the 
advancing column. I rode on mile after mile, and 
passed train after train, but could find no one 
that could tell me where McClellan's headquarters 
were. 

On I went in this way until noon, and then 
found that I was six miles from headquarters. 
After riding a distance which seemed to me all of 
^ten miles, I at length found the place sought for. 
I fed my horse, attended to the business which I 
had been sent to transact, and then tried to find 
something in the way of rations for myself, but 
failed utterly. Not a mouthful could I procure 
either at the sutler's headquarters, cook-house, or 



A DREARY RIDE. 291 

in any other place. I went to two houses and 
they told me they had not a mouthful in the 
house cooked or uncooked — but of course I be- 
lieved as much of that story as I pleased. 

The day had been very cold ; there had been 
several smart showers during my ride, and now it 
began to snow — a sort of sleet which froze as fast 
as it fell. This was an October day in Old Vir- 
ginia. Oh ! what an afternoon I spent in the sad- 
dle on my return ; hungry, wet, and shivering with 
cold. I traveled as fast as my horse was able to 
go until ten o'clock at night, with the hope of 
overtaking the troops I had left in the morning, 
but all in vain, for the whole line of march and 
programme for the day had been changed, in con- 
sequence of coming in contact with the enemy and 
having a sharp skirmish, which resulted in our 
troops being nearly outflanked and cut off from 
the main body of the army. 

Of course I had no opportunity of knowing this 
that night, so on I went in another direction from 
that in which the advance guard had gone. By 
and by I came to some fresh troops just from the 
North, who had lately enlisted and been sent down 
to Washington, and now were on their way to 
join McClellan's army. They had been put on 
guard duty for the first time, and that too without 
any definite orders, their officers having concluded 
to remain there until the main column came up, 
and they scarcely knew where they were or what 



292 a'green guard. 

orders to give their men. As I rode up, on^. of the 
boys — for if boy he was, not more than six- 
teen summers had graced his youthful brow — ' 
stepped out in the middle of the road with his 
musket at a ''trail arms," and there he stood till I 
came up close to him, and then he did not even 
say '' halt," but quietly told me that I could not go 
any farther in that direction. Why not ? Well, 
he didn't exactly know, but he was put there on 
guard, and he supposed it was to prevent any one 
from going backward or forward. Whether they 
have the countersign or not ? Well,, he did not 
know how that was. I then asked him if the officer 
of the guard had given him the countersign. Yes, 
but he did not know whether it was right or not. 
''Well," said I, "perhaps I can tell you 
whether it is correct ; I have just come from 
headquarters." He seemed to think that there 
could be no harm in telling me if I had been at 
headquarters, so he told me without any hesitation. 
Whereupon I proceeded to tell him of the impro- 
priety of doing so ; that it was a military offense 
for which he could be punished severely ; and 
that he had no right to give the countersign to 
any one, not even the general in command. Then 
told him how to hold his musket when he chal- 
lenged any one on his beat, and within how many 
paces to let them approach him before halting 
them, etc. The boy received both lecture and in- 
structions "in the spirit of meekness," and by the 



SEEKING SHELTER. 293 

time I had finished a number of the men were 
standing around me eager to ask questions, and 
especially if I knew to what portion of the army 
that particular regiment was to be assigned. 

After passing along through these green troops 
I rode on till I came to a little village, which I 
never learned the name of, and intended to stop 
there the remainder of the night ; but upon learn- 
ing that a band of guerrillas occupied it, I turned 
aside, preferring to seek some other place of rest. 
I traveled till two o'clock in the morning, when 
my horse began to show signs of giving out ; then 
I stopped at a farm-house, but not being able to 
make any one hear me, I hitched my horse under 
cover of a wood-shed, and taking the blanket from 
under the saddle, I lay down beside him. the sad- 
dle-blanket being my only covering. The storm 
had ceased, but the night was intensely cold, and 
the snow was about two or three inches deep. I 
shall always believe that I would have perished 
that night, had not my faithful horse lain down 
beside me, and by the heat of his beautiful head, 
which he laid across my shoulders, (a thing which 
he always did whenever I lay down where he could 
reach me,) kept me from perishing in my wet 
clothes. 

It will be remembered that I had started at 
daylight the previous morning, and had never 
been out of the saddle, or fed my horse but once 
since I started, and had not eaten a mouthful my- 



i 
294 AGtJERRILLAFIGHT. 

self for twenty- four hours, and had ridderv all day 
and almost all night in the storm. In the morning 
my feet and hands were so chilled that they were 
perfectly numb, and I could scarcely stand. How- 
ever, as soon as daylight came I started again. 
About a mile from there I went into a field where 
the unhusked corn stood in stacks, and fed my 
horse. 

While employed in this manner, there came 
along a party of our cavalry looking after that band 
of guerrillas which I had passed the night before. 
It was known that they were in the neighborhood, 
and these men were sent out in search of them. 
I told them what I knew about it, and intimated 
that if I were not so hungry, I would go back with 
them to the village. That objection was soon re- 
moved, by supplying me with a substantial break- 
fast from their haversacks. We started for the 
village, and had gone about five miles when we 
were suddenly surprised and fired upon by the 
guerrillas. Two of our men were killed on the 
spot, and my horse received three bullets. He 
reared and plunged before he fell, and in doing so 
the saddle-girth was broken, and saddle and rider 
were thrown over his head. I was thrown on the 
ground violently which stunned me for a moment, 
and my horse soon fell beside me, his blood pour- 
ing from three wounds. Making a desperate effort 
to rise, he groaned once, fell back, and throwing 
his neck across my body, he saturated me from 



PLAYING POSSUM. 295 

head to foot with his blood. He died in a few 
minutes. I remained in that position, not daring 
to rise, for our party had fled and the rebels pur- 
sued them. A very few minutes elapsed when 
the guerrillas returned, and the first thing I saw 
was one of the men thrusting his sabre into one 
of the dead men beside me. I was lying partially 
on my face, so I closed my eyes and passed for 
dead. The rebels evidently thought I was un- 
worthy of their notice, for after searching the bod- 
ies of the two dead men they rode away ; but just 
as I was making up my mind to crawl out from 
under the dead horse, I heard the tramp of a 
horse's feet, and lay perfectly still and held my 
breath. It was one of the same men, who had re- 
turned. Dismounting, he came up and took hold 
of my feet, and partially drew me from under the 
horse's head, and then examined my pockets. 
Fortunately, I had no official documents with me, 
and very little money — not more than five dollars. 
After transferring the contents of my pockets to 
his own, he re-mounted his horse and rode away, 
without ever suspecting that the object before him 
was playing possum. 

Not long after the departure of the guerrillas, 
our party returned with reinforcements and pur> 
sued the rebel band. One of the men returned to 
camp with me, letting me ride his horse, and walk- 
ed all the way himself The guerrillas were cap- 
tured that day, and, after searching them, my 



296 RETURN TO CAMP. 

pocket-book was found upon one of them, and 
was returned to me with its contents undisturbed. 
It lies before me, while I write, reminding me of 
that narrow escape, and of the mercy of God in 
sparing my unprofitable life. 

A Sov'reign Protector I have, 

Unseen, yet forever at hand ; 
Unchangeably faithful to save, — 

Almighty to rule and command. 

After returning to camp, I found that I had 
sustained more injury by my fall from the horse 
than I had realized at the time. But a broken 
limb would have been borne cheerfully, if I could 
only have had my pet horse again. That evening 
we held our weekly prayer-meeting, notwithstand- 
ing we were on a march. Chaplain and Mrs. B., 
Nellie, and Dr. E. were present, and joined hear- 
tily in singing the following hymn : 

And are we yet alive, 

And see each other's face? 
Glory and praise to Jesus give, 

For His redeeming grace. 
Preserved by power divine 

To full salvation here, 
Again in Jesus' praise we join, 

And in his sight appear. 

What troubles have we seen ! 

What conflicts have we pastl 
Fightings without, and fears within, 

Since wo assembled last I 
But out of all the Lord 

Hath brought us by His love ; 
And still he doth his help afford, 

And hides our life above. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

MC CLELLAN RELIEVED HIS ADDRESS — BURNSIDE IN" COMMAND 

ON THE MARCH FALMOUTH MY RIDE OLD BATTLEFIELDS 

SAD SIGHTS "YANKEE SKULLS " " BONE ORNAMENTS " 

SHELLING FREDERICKSBURG PONTOON BRIDGES OCCUPATION 

OF THE CITY AIDE-DE-CAMP DREADFUL SLAUGHTER A GAL- 
LANT MAJOR STRANGE SIGHTS DARK NIGHT DEATH OF 

GENERAL BAYARD — SOMEONE's PET RECROSSING THE RAP- 
PAHANNOCK. 

AFTER reaching Warrenton the army en- 
camped in that vicinity for a few days — 
during which ''Father Abraham" took the favor- 
able opportunity of relieving the idol of the Army 
of the Potomac from his command, and ordered 
him to report at Trenton, New Jersey, just as he 
was entering upon another campaign, with his 
army in splendid condition. 

After a brief address and an affecting farewell to 
officers and men, he hastened to comply with the 
order. His farewell address was as follows : 

''November 7th, 1862. Officers and Soldiers 
of the Army of the Potomac: An order of the 
President devolves upon Major-General Burnside 
the command of this army. In parting from you 
I cannot express the love and gratitude I bear 
you. As an army you have grown up under my 



298 MCCLELLAN RELIEVED. 

care. In you I have never found doubt or cold- 
ness. The battles you have fought under my 
command will proudly live in our nation's his- 
tory. The glory you have achieved, our mu- 
tual perils and fatigues, the graves of our com- 
rades fallen in battle and by disease, the broken 
forms of those whom wounds and sickness have 
disabled — the strongest associations which can 
exist among men — unite us still by an indissoluble 
tie. We shall ever be comrades in supporting the 
constitution of our country and the nationality of 
its people." 

That was a sad day for the Army of the Potomac. 

The new commander marched the army imme- 
diately to Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. Of 
the incidents of that march I know nothing, for I 
went to Washington, and from thence to Aquia 
Creek by water. 

I did not return to Washington on the cars, but 
rode on horseback, and made a two days' trip of 
it, visiting all the old places as I went. The bat- 
tle-ground of the first and second Bull Run battles, 
Centerville, Fairfax Court House, and Chentilla. 

But how shall I describe the sights which I saw 
and the impressions which I had as I rode over 
those fields ! There were men and horses thrown 
together in heaps, and some clay thrown on them 
above ground ; others lay where they had fallen, 
their limbs bleaching in the sun without the ap- 
pearance of burial. 



SAD SIGHTS. 299 

There was one in particular — a cavalryman : he 
and his horse both lay together, nothing but the 
bones and clothing remained ; but one of his arms 
stood straight up, or rather the bones and the 
coatsleeve, his hand had dropped off at the wrist 
and lay on the ground ; not a finger or joint was 
separated, but the hand was perfect. I dismount- 
ed twice for the purpose of bringing away that 
hand, but did not do so after all. I would have 
done so if it had been possible to find a clue to 
his name or regiment. 

The few fiimili^s who still live in that vicinity 
tell horrid stories of the brutal conduct of the re- 
bels after those battles. 

A Southern clergyman declares that in the 
town where he now resides he saw rebel soldiers 
selling "Yankee skulls" at ten dollars apiece. 
And it is a common thing to see rebel women 
wear rings and ornaments made of our soldiers' 
bones — in fact they boast of it, even to the Union 
soldiers, that they have '' Yankee bone ornaments." 

This to me was a far more sickening sight than 
was presented at the time of the battles, with dead 
and wounded lying in their gore. I looked in 
vain for the old "brush heap" which had once 
screened me from the rebel cavalry ; the fire had 
consumed it. But the remains of the Stone Church 
at Centerville was an object of deep interest to me. 

I went from Washington to Aquia Creek by 
steamer, and from thence to Falmouth on horse- 



300 ENCAMPED IN THE MUD. 

back. I found the army encamped in the mud for 
miles along the Rappahannock river. 

The river is very narrow between Falmouth and 
Fredericksburg, not more than a stone's cast in 
some places. I have often seen the pickets on 
both sides amusing themselves by throwing stones 
across it. 

Some writer in describing the picturesque sce- 
nery in this locality says : '^ There is a young river 
meandering through its center, towards which 
slope down beautiful banks of mud on either side, 
while the fields are delightfully variegated by al- 
ternate patches of snow and swamp, and the nu- 
merous roads are in such condition that no matter 
which one you take you are sure to wish you had 
tried another instead." 

All the mud and bad roads on the Peninsula 
could not bear the least comparison with that of 
Falmouth and along the Rappahannock. 

It was now December and the weather was ex- 
tremely cold, yet the constant rains kept the roads 
in the most terrible state imaginable. 

On riding along the brink of the river we could 
see distinctly the rebel batteries frowning on the 
heights beyond the city of Fredericksburg, and 
the rebel sentinels walking their rounds within 
talking distance of our own pickets. 

On the eleventh the city was shelled by our 
troops. The pontoon bridges were laid amid show- 
ers of bullets from the sharpshooters of the enemy, 



THE BATTLE-FIELD. 301 

who were ensconced in the houses on the opposite 
bank. Ho w^ ever, the work went steadily on, not- 
withvi^anding that two out of every three who 
were engaged in laying the bridges w^ere either 
killed or wounded. But as fast as one fell another 
took his place. 

Soon it was deemed expedient to take care of 
those sharpshooters before the bridges could be 
finished. Several companies filed into boats and 
rowed across in a few minutes, the men of the Sev- 
enth Michigan leading the van, and drove the 
rebels from the houses, killing some and taking 
many prisoners. 

The bridges were soon completed, the troops 
marched over and took possession of the city. 
Headquarters were established in the principal 
building, and a church and other large buildings 
were appropriated for hospital purposes. 

The following is an extract from my journal, 
written on the battlefield the second day after we 
crossed the river : 

Battle-field, Fredericksburg, Ya., ) 
December 13, 1862. j 

In consequence of one of General H.'s staff of- 
ficers being ill I have volunteered to take his 
place, and am now aide-de-camp to General H. 1 
wish my friends could see me in my present uni- 
form! This division will probably charge on the 
enemy's works this afternoon. God grant them 
success ! While I write the roar of cannon and 



302 DREADFUL SLAUGHTER. 

musketry is almost deafening, and the shot and 
shell are falling fast on all sides. This may be 
my last entry in this jomnial. God's will be done. 
I commit myself to Him, soul and body. I must 
close. General H. has mounted his horse, and 
says Come — ! 

Of course it is not for me to say whose fault it 
was in sacrificing those thousands of noble lives 
which fell upon that disastrous field, or in charging 
again and again upon those terrible stone walls 
and fortifications, after being repulsed every time 
with more than half their number lying on the 
ground. The brave men, nothing daunted by 
their thinned ranks, advanced more fiercely on 
the foe — 

Plunged in the battery's smoke, 
Fiercely the hne tliey broke ; 
Strong was the saber stroke, 
Making an army reel. 

But when it was proved to a demonstration that 
it was morally impossible to take and retain those 
heights, in consequence of the natural advantage 
of position which the rebels occupied, and still 
would occupy if they should fall back — whose 
fault was it that the attempt was made time after 
time, until the field was literally piled with dead 
and ran red with blood ? We may truly say of 
the brave soldiers thus sacrificed — 

Their's not to reason why, 
Their's not to make reply, 
Their's but to do and die. 



A GALLANT MAJOR. 303 

Among the many who fell in that dreadful bat- 
tle perhaps there is none more worthy of notice 
than the brave and heroic Major Edward E. 
Sturtevant, of Keene, New Hampshire, who fell 
while leading the gallant Fifth in a charge 
upon the enemy. He was the first man in New 
Hampshire who enlisted /o7' the tear. He was im- 
mediately authorized by the Gov^ernor to make en- 
listments for the First New Hampshire Volunteers, 
and was eminently successful. He held the com- 
mission of captain in the First Regiment, and af- 
terwards was promoted major of the Fifth. 

One of the leading papers of his native State 
has the following with regard to him : '' He was 
in every battle where the regiment was engaged, 
nine or ten in number, besides skirmishes, and was 
slightly wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks. He 
commanded the regiment most of the time on the 
retreat from the Chickahominy to James river. 
The filial affection of the deceased was of the 
strongest character, and made manifest in substan- 
tial ways on many occasions. His death is the 
first in the household, and deep is the grief that 
is experienced there ; but that grief will doubtless 
be mitigated by the consoling circumstance that 
the departed son and brother died in a service 
that will hallow his memory forever. A braver 
man or more faithful friend never yielded up his 
spirit amidst the clash of arms and the wail of the 
dying." 



304 STRANGE SIGHTS. 

I well remember the desperate charge which 
that brave ollicer made upon the enemy just before 
he fell, and the thinned and bleeding ranks of his 
men as they returned, leaving their beloved com- 
mander on the field, reminded me of the ''gallant 
six hundred," of whom Tennyson has written the 
following lines : 

Stormed at witli shot and shell, 
They that liad struck so well 
Rode through the jaws of death, 
Half a league back again 
Up, from the mouth of hell — 
All that was left of them. 

1 have since had the pleasure of becoming ac- 
quainted with the bereaved family of the deceased, 
and deeply sympathize with them in the loss of 
one so noble, kind, and brave. 

Major Sturtevant was the son of George W. 
Sturtevant, Esq., and nephew of Rev. David Kil- 
burn — one of the pioneers of Methodism — whom 
thousands will remember as a faithful and efficient 
minister of the Gospel. 

During tlie progress of that battle I saw many 
strange sights— although I had been in many a 
fierce battle before. I never saw, till then, a man 
deliberately shoot himself, with his own pistol, in 
order to save the rebels the satisfaction of doing 
so, as it would seem. 

As one brigade was ordered into line of battle, 
I saw an officer take out his pistol and shoot him- 
self through the side — not mortally, I am sorry to 



GENERAL BAYARD. 305 

say, but just sufficient to unfit him for duty ; so he 
was carried to the rear — he protesting that it was 
don^ by accident. 

Another officer I saw there, a young and hand- 
some lieutenant, disgrace his shoulder-straps by 
showing the white feather at the very moment 
when he was most needed. 

I rode three miles with General H. to General 
Franklin's headquarters, the second night we were 
at Fredericksburg, and of all the nights that I can 
recall to mind that was the darkest. On our way 
we had numerous ditches to leap, various ravines 
to cross, and mountains to climb, which can be 
better imagined than described. It was not only 
once or twice that horse and rider went tumbling 
into chasms head first, but frequently. 

As we passed along, we stopped at the head- 
quarters of General Bayard (General of Cavalry) a 
few minutes — found him enjoying a cup of coffee 
under a large tree, which constituted his head- 
quarters. We called again when we returned, but 
he was cold in death, having been struck by a 
stray shot, and died in a short time. He was 
killed just where we had left him, under the tree. 
He was a splendid officer, and his removal was a 
great loss to the Federal cause. His death cast a 
gloom over his whole command which was deeply 
felt. 

Of the wounded of this battle I can say but lit- 
tle, for my time was fully occupied in the respon- 

20 



306 A BRAVE OFFICER. 

sible duties which I had vohmteered to perform ; 
and so constantly was I employed, that I was not 
out of the saddle but once in twelve hours, and 
that was to assist an officer of the Seventy-ninth, 
who lay writhing in agony on the field, having 
been seized with cramps and spasms, and was suf- 
fering the most extreme pain. He was one of the 
brave and fearless ones, however, and in less than 
an hour, after having taken some powerful medi- 
cine which I procured for him, he was again on 
his horse, at the general's side. 

On going to the Church hospital in search of 
Doctor E., I saw an immense shell which had been 
sent through the building and fell on the floor, in 
the centre of those wounded and dying men who 
had just been carried off the field, and placed there 
for safety. But strange to say, it did not burst or 
injure any one, and was carried out and laid beside 
the mangled limbs which had been amputated in 
consequence of contact with just such instruments 
of death. I saw the remains of the Rev. A. B. 
Fuller, Chaplain of the Sixteenth Massachusetts, 
as they were removed to the camp. He was faith- 
ful to his trust, and died at his post. 

On one of my necessary rides, in the darkness 
of that dreadful night, I passed by a grave-yard 
near by where our reserves were lying — and there, 
in that hour of darkness and danger, I heard the 
voice of prayer ascend. A group of soldiers were 
there holding communion with God — strengthen- 



PRAYER IN A GRAVE-YARD. 307 

ing their souls for the coming conflict. There 
are, scattered over the battle-fields and camping- 
grounds of this war, Bethels, consecrated to God, 
and sacred to souls who have wrestled and pre- 
vailed. This retirement was a grave-yard, with a 
marble slab for an altar, where that little band 
met to worship God — perhaps for the last time. 

But among all the dead and wounded, I saw 
none who touched my heart so much as one beau- 
tiful boy, severely wounded ; he was scarcely more 
than a child, and certainly a very attractive one. 
Some one writes the following, after he was sent 
to a hospital : 

''Among the many brave, uncomplaining fel- 
lows who were brought up to the hospital from 
the battle of Fredericksburg, was a bright-eyed 
and intelligent youth, sixteen years old, who be- 
longed to a northern regiment. He appeared 
more aflectionate and tender, more refined and 
thoughtful than many of his comrades, and at- 
tracted a good deal of attention from the attend- 
ants and visitors. Manifestly the pet of some 
household which he had left, perhaps, in spite of 
entreaty and tears. He expressed an anxious long- 
ing for the arrival of his mother, who was expected, 
having been informed that he was mortally wound- 
ed, and failing fast. Ere she arrived, however, he 
died. But before the end, almost his last act of 
consciousness was the thought that she had really 
come ; for, as a lady sat by his pillow and wiped 



308 SCMECN2 S ?3T. 

the de<aih-dews from his brow, just as his sight 
was failing, he rallied a little, like an expiring 
taper in its socket, looked up longingly and joy- 
fully, and in tones that drew tears from every eye 
whispered audibly, ' Is that mother ? ' Then draw- 
\ng her toward him with all his feeble power, he 
nestled his head in her arms, like a sleeping child, 
and thus died, with the sweet word, ' Mother,' on 
his lips." 

Raise me in jonv arms, dear mother, 

Let me once more look 
On the green and waving willows, 

And the flowing brook ; 
Hark, those strains of angel music 

From the choirs above ! 
Dearest mother, I am going, 

Truly "God is love," 

A council of war was held by our generals, and 
the conclusion arrived at that the enterprise should 
be abandoned, and that the army should recross 
the Rappahannock under cover of darkness. Ev- 
erything was conducted in the most quiet manner; 
60 quiet, indeed, that the enemy never suspected 
the movement, and the retreat was accomplished, 
iind the bridges partially removed, before the fact 
was discovered. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

AFTER THE BATTLE SUFFERINGS OF THE WOUNDED GENERAL 

BURNSIDE's order "stuck in the mud" HOOKER IN COM- 
MAND WESTERN CAMPAIGN CAVALRY RECONNOISSANCE 

ANOTHER DISGUISE AGAIN IN DIXIE A WEDDING PARTY— 

IN A TRAP REBEL CONSCRIPT ON THE MARCH A REBEL 

CAPTAIN A FIERCE ENGAGEMENT AGAIN UNDER THE OLD 

FLAG PAYING A DEBT OF GRATITUDE. 

AFTER the battle of Fredericksburgh the 
weather was very cold, and the wounded 
suffered exceedingly — even after they were sent 
to Aquia Creek, and other places — for they could 
not all be provided for and made comfortable im- 
mediately. Our troops returned to their old camps 
in the mud, and remained stationary for several 
weeks, notwithstanding our daily orders were to 
be ready to march at a moment's notice. The un> 
necessary slaughter of our men at Fredericksburg 
had a sad effect upon our troops, and the tone of 
the northern press was truly distressing. The 
wailing for the noble dead seemed wafted on ev- 
ery breeze, for 

In the city, in the village, 

In the hamlet far away. 
Sit the mothers, watching, waiting, 

For their soldier boys to-day. 



310 GENERAL BURNSIDe's ORDER. 

They are coming, daily corning, 

One by one, and score by score, 
In their leaden casings folded, 

Underneath the tlag they bore. 

On the twentieth of January General Burnside 
issued the following order to the army, which was 
joyfully received ; for of all places for an encamp- 
ment, that seemed to be the most inconvenient and 
disagreeable : 



Head-quarters, Army of the Potomac, 
Camp near Falmouth^ Fa., Jan. 20, 1863 

General Orders — No. 7. 



3. \ 



The Commanding General announces to the 
Army of the Potomac that they are about to meet 
the enemy once more. The late brilliant actions 
in North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas, have 
divided and weakened the enemy on the Rappa- 
hannock, and the auspicious moment seems to 
have arrived to strike a great and mortal blow to 
the rebellion, and to gain that decisive victory 
which is due to the country. 

Let the gallant soldiers of so many brilliant bat- 
tle-fields accomplish this achievement, and a fame 
the most glorious awaits them. 

The Commanding General calls for the firm and 
united action of officers and men, and, under the 
providence of God, the Army of the Potomac 
^ill have taken the great step towards restoring 



WESTERN CAMPAIGN. 311 

peace to the country, and the Government to its 
rightful authority. 

By command of Major-General Burnside. 

Lewis Richmond, Assistant Adjutant- General, 

i 

Soon after this order was issued a portion of 
the army did really move — but the pontoons be- 
came " stuck in the mud," and the troops returned 
again. In this manner the winter wore away, and 
a severe winter I thought it was ; for in riding a 
distance of two miles, in two instances, I had my 
feet frozen. 

General Hooker was now put in command of 
the Army of the Potomac, and Burnside, with the 
Ninth Army Corps, ordered to the Western de- 
partment. Being desirous of leaving the Army 
of the Potomac, I now applied for permission to 
go witl^ the Ninth Corps, which was granted. I 
did not go with the troops, however, but went to 
Washington first, and remained several days ; then 
took the cars and proceeded to Louisville, Ken- 
tucky, and arrived there before the troops did. 

The last entry in my journal, before leaving the 
Army of the Potomac, was as follows: "The 
weather department is in perfect keeping with the 
War Department ; its policy being to make as 
many changes as possible, and every one worse 
than the last. May God bless the old Army of tho 
Potomac, and save it from total annihilation." 



312 CAVALRY RECONNOISSANCE. 

On the arrival of the troops at Louisville, they 
were sent in detachments to different places — some 
to Bardstown, some to Lebanon, and others to 
guard different portions of the railroad. 

The third day after my arrival I went out with 
a reconnoitering expedition, under command of 
General M. It was entirely composed of cavalry. 
We rode thirty-six miles that afternoon — the roads 
were splendid. When we were about twelve 
miles :"om our lines we changed our course and 
struck through the woods, fording creeks and 
crossing swamps, which was anything but pleasant. 

After emerging from the thick undergrowth, on 
one occasion, we came upon an inferior force of 
the enemy's cavalry ; a sharp skirmish ensued, 
which resulted in the capture of five prisoners 
from the rebel band, and wounding several. Three 
of our men were slightly wounded, but we re- 
turned to Louisville in good order, and enjoyed 
the luxury of a good supper at a hotel, which is a 
rare thing in that city. 

I took the cars the next day and went to 
Lebanon — dressed in one of the rebel prisoner's 
clothes — and thus disguised, made another trip to 
rebeldom. My business purported to be buying 
up butter and eggs, at the farm-houses, for the 
rebel army. I passed through the lines some- 
where, without knowing it ; for on coming to a 
little village toward evening, I found it occupied 
by a strong force of rebel cavalry. The first house 



CAPTAIN LOGAN. 313 

I went to was filled with officers and citizens. 1 
had stumbled upon a wedding party, unawares. 
Captain Logan, a recruiting officer, had been mar- 
ried that afternoon to a brilliant young widow 
whose husband had been killed in the rebel army 
a few months before. She had discovered that 
widow's weeds were not becoming to her style of 
beauty, so had decided to appear once more in 
bridal costume, for a change. 

I was questioned pretty sharply by the hand- 
some captain in regard to the nature of my busi- 
ness in that locality, but finding me an innocent, 
straightforward Kentuckian, he came to the con- 
clusion that I was all right. But he also arrived 
at the conclusion that I was old enough to be in 
the army, and bantered me considerably ujjon my 
want of patriotism. 

The rebel soldier s clothes which I wore did not 
indicate any thing more than that I was a Ken- 
tuckian — for their cavalry do not dress in any 
particular uniform, for scarcely two of them dress 
alike — the only uniformity being that they most 
generally dress in butternut color. 

I tried to make my escape from that village as 
soon as possible, but just as I was beginning to 
congratulate myself upon my good fortune, Avho 
should confront me but Captain Logan. Said he : 
'' See here, my lad ; I think the best thing you 
can do is to enlist, and join a company which is 
just forming here in the village, and will leave in 



314 IN A TRAP. 

the morning. We are giving a bounty to all who 
freely enlist, and are conscripting those who re- 
fuse. Which do you propose to do, enlist and get 
the bounty, or refuse, and be obliged to go with- 
out anything? " I replied, "I think I shall wait 
a few days before I decide." '' But we can't wait 
for you to decide," said the captain; " the Yankees 
may be upon us any moment, for we are not far 
from their lines, and we will leave here either to- 
night or in the morning early. I will give you 
two hours to decide this question, and in the mean 
time you must be put under guard." So saying, 
he marched me back with him, and gave me in 
charge of the guards. In two or three hours he 
came for my decision, and I told him that I had 
concluded to wait until I was conscripted. '^ Well," 
said he, ''you will not have long to wait for that, 
so you may consider yourself a soldier of the Con- 
federacy from this hour, and subject to military 
discipline." 

This seemed to me like pretty serious business, 
-especially as I would be required to take the oath 
of allegiance to the Confederate Government. 
However, I did not despair, but trusted in Provi- 
dence and my own ingenuity to escape from this 
dilemma also ; and as 1 was not required to take 
the oath until the company was filled up, I was 
determined to be among the missing ere it became 
necessary for me to make any professions of loy- 
alty to the rebel cause. I knew that if I should 



WEDDING PARTY. 315 

refuse to be sworn into the service after I was 
conscripted, that in all probability my true char- 
acter would be susjDected, and I would have to 
suffer the penalty of death — and that, too, in the 
most barbarous manner. 

I was glad to find that it was a company of cav- 
alry that was being organized, for if I could once 
get on a good horse there would be some hope of 
my escape. There was no time to be lost, as the 
captain remarked, for the Yankees might make a 
dash upon us at any moment ; consequently a horse 
and saddle was furnished me, and everything was 
made ready for a start immediately. Ten 
o'clock came, and we had not yet started. The 
captain finally concluded that, as everything seemed 
quiet, we would not start until daylight. 

Music and dancing was kept up all night, and it 
was some time after daylight when the captain 
made his appearance. A few moments more and 
we were trotting briskly over the country, the 
captain complimenting me upon my horseman- 
ship, and telling me how grateful I would be to 
him when the war was over and the South had 
gained her independence, and that I would be 
proud that I had been one of the soldiers of the 
Southern confederacy, who had steeped my saber 
in Yankee blood, and driven the vandals from our 
soil. ''Then," said he, "you will thank me for 
the interest which I have taken in you, and for 
the gentle persuasives which I made use of to stir 



316 A FIERCE ENGAGEMENT. 

up your patriotism and remind you of your duty 
to your country." 

In this manner we had traveled about half an 
hour, when we suddenly encountered a reconnoi- 
tering party of the Federals, cavalry in advance, 
and infantry in the rear. A contest soon com- 
menced ; we were ordered to advance in line, 
which we did, until we came within a few yards 
of the Yankees. 

The company advanced, but my horse suddenly 
became unmanageable, and it required a second 
or two to bring him right again ; and before I 
could overtake the company and get in line the 
contending parties had met in a hand to hand 
fight. 

All were engaged, so that when I, by accident, 
got on the Federal side of the line, none observed 
me for several minutes, except the Federal officer, 
who had recognized me and signed to me to fall 
in next to him. That brought me face to face 
with my rebel captain, to whom I owed such a 
debt of gratitude. Thinking this would be a good 
time to cancel all obligations in that direction, I 
discharged the contents of my pistol in his face. 

This act made me the center of attraction. 
Every rebel seemed determined to have the plea- 
sure of killing me first, and a simultaneous dash 
was made toward me and numerous saber strokes 
aimed at my head. Our men with one accord 
xrushed between me and the enemy, and warded 



HOT CONTEST. 317 

off the blows with their sabers, and attacked them 
with such fury that they were driven back several 
rods. 

The infantry now came up and deployed as 
skirmishers, and succeeded in getting a position 
where they had a complete cross-fire on the rebels, 
and poured in volley after volley until nearly half 
their number lay upon the ground. Finding it 
useless to fight longer at such a disadvantage they 
turned and fled, leaving behind them eleven 
killed, twenty-nine wounded, and seventeen 
prisoners. 

The confederate captain was wounded badly 
but not mortally ; l\is handsome face was very 
much disfigured, a part of his nose and nearly half 
of his upper lip being shot away. I was sorry, 
for the graceful curve of his mustache was sadly 
spoiled, and the happy bride of the previous morn- 
ing would no longer rejoice in the beauty of that 
manly face and exquisite mustache of which she 
seemed so proud, and which had captivated her 
heart ere she had been three months a widow. 

Our men suffered considerable loss before the 
infantry came up, but afterward scarcely lost a 
man. I escaped without receiving a scratch, but 
my horse was badly cut across the neck with a 
saber, but which did not injure him materially, 
only for a short time. 

After burying the dead, Federal and rebel, we 
returnedr to camp with our prisoners and wounded, 



318 A DETECTIVE. 

and I rejoiced at having once more escaped from 
the confederate lines. 

I was highly commended by the commanding 
general for my coolness throughout the whole af- 
fair, and was told kindly and candidly that I would 
not be permitted to go out again in that vicinity, 
in the capacity of spy, as I would most assuredly 
meet with some of those who had seen me desert 
their ranks, and I would consequently be hung up 
to the nearest tree. 

Not having any particular fancy for such an ex- 
alted position, and not at all ambitious of having 
my name handed down to posterity among the 
list of those who " expiated their crimes upon the 
gallows," I turned my attention to more quiet and 
less dangerous duties. 

Then sweet thoughts of home came stealing 
over my mind, and I exclaimed : 

Adieu, dear land, 

With beauty teeming, 
Where first I roved a careless child ; 

Of thee my heart 

Will e'er be dreaming — 
Thy snow-clad peaks and mountains wild. 

Dear land, tliat I cherish, 

0, long may'st thou flourish 1 

My memory must perish 

Ere I forget thee. 



CHAPTER XXY. 

APPOINTED DETECTIVE 1 VISIT LOUISVILLE SECESH ACQUAITfT- 

ANCES SEEKING EMPLOYMENT PEDDLING REBEL SPIES- 
ACTING AS CLERK TRAPPING ^PIES START FOR VICKSBURG 

PRO-SLAVERY TROOPS CRUELTY TO NEGROES VISITING HOS- 
PITALS TOUCHING SCENES AN ARMLESS SOLDIER PATIENT 

SUFFERING TRIUMPHANT DEATH RALLY ROUND THE FLAG 

WESTERN CHAPLAINS SOLDIERs' TESTIMONY EFFECT OF 

PRAYER IN BATTLE — CARRYING THE WOUNDED. 

BEING prohibited from further explorations in 
that region outside of our lines, I was ap- 
pointed to act as detective inside of the lines, as 
there were many spies in our midst who were daily 
giving information to the enemy, and had baffled 
all attempts at discovery. 

I forthwith dressed in citizen's clothes and pro- 
ceeded to Louisville, and there mingled freely 
with the citizens, visited the different places of 
public resort, and made many secesh acquaintances 

At length I found a merchant who was the most 
bitter in his denunciations of the Yankees that it 
has ever been my lot to meet, and I thought he 
would be a pretty good person to assist me in my 
undertakings. Stepping into his store one morn- 
ing I inquired if he was in need of a clerk. He 
replied that he would require help in a few days, 
as one of his clerks was going to leave. 



320 PEDDLING AGAIN. 

Then came the interrogatory process — Who was 
I, where did I come from, and what had brought 
me to that city? Well, I was a foreigner, and 
wishing to see a little of this great American war, I 
had come '' down South ;" and now that I was here, 
■finding myself scarce of money, I would like to 
find some employment. This was literally true. I 
was a foreigner, and very often scarce of money, 
and really wished him to employ me. 

He finally told me that I might come in the 
course of a week ; but that did not suit my pur- 
pose, so I told him I would rather come at once, 
as I would be learning considerable before the 
other clerk went away ; adding that he might give 
me just whatever he pleased for the first week's 
work. That seemed to suit him and I was at once 
set to work. 

After I had been there several days, I was asked 
how I would like to go out to the nearest camp 
and sell some small articles to the soldiers. I 
would like it much ; so was sent accordingly with 
an assortment of pocket knives, combs and sus- 
penders. By the middle of the afternoon I had 
sold out my stock in trade, returned to the store, 
and gave a good account of myself and of the 
goods intrusted to my care. 

My employer was pleased with my success and 
seemed interested in me, and each day brought 
some new proof of his confidence. Things went 
on this -way for two weeks, in which time I had 



ACTING AS CLERK. 321 

succeeded, by the good merchant's assistance, in 
finding a clue to three rebel spies then within our 
lines. 

I was often questioned by my employer with 
regard to my political sentiments, but of course I 
did not know anything about politics — in fact I 
hardly knew how to apply the terms Federal and 
Confederate, and often misapplied them when 
talking in the store, and was frequentlj^ told that 
I must not call the d — d Yankees, Confederates, 
and all due pains were taken to instruct me, and 
give me a proper insight into the true state of af- 
fairs, as seen by Southern secessionists. 

At last I expressed a desire to enter the Con- 
federate service, and asked the merchant how I 
should manage to get through the Yankee lines if 
I should decide to take such a step. After a 
long conversation, and much planning, we at last 
decided that I should go through our lines the 
next night with a person who was considered by 
our troops a thorough Union man, as he had taken 
the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government 
— -but who was in reality a rebel spy. 

That afternoon I was sent out again, to dispose 
of some goods to the soldiers, and while I was 
gone took the favorable opportunity of informing 
the Provost Marshal of my intended escape the 
following night together with my brother spy. 

After telling him that I might not be able to 
leave the store again with any more definite in- 

21 



322 REBEL SPIES. 

formation without incurring suspicion, and that he 
had better send some one to the store at a certain 
hour the next day to purchase some trifle, so that 
I might inclose in the parcel the necessary infor- 
mation, I went back to the store, and my clever 
employer told me that I had better not trouble 
myself any more about anything, but get ready 
for my journey. Having but little preparation to 
make, however, I soon returned to the store. 

Not long after a gentleman came in, to whom I 
was introduced, and was told that this was the 
person who proposed to conduct me through the 
lines He was not announced in his true charac^ 
ter, but I understood at once that this gentlemanly 
personage was no less than the spy before referred 
to. He cjuestioned me pretty sharply, but I being 
''slow of speech," referred him to the merchant, 
whose eloquence had convinced me of my duty to 
the Southern confederacy. 

My employer stood beside me and gave him a 
brief history of our acquaintance and of his confi- 
dence in me ; also of his own peculiar faculty of 
impressing the truth upon unprejudiced minds. 

The spy evidently took me for a poor green 
boy whom the merchant had flattered into the 
idea of becoming a soldier, but who did not realize 
the responsibility of my position, and I confirmed 
him in that opinion by saying — " Well, I suppose 
if I don't like soldiering they will let me go home 
ugain?" 



TRAPPING A SPY. 323 

The Provost Marshal himself came in during the 
day, and I had my document ready informing him 
what time we would start and what direction we 
were to take. 

The night came., and we started about nine 
o'clock. As we walked along toward the rebel 
lines the spy seemed to think that I was a true 
patriot in the rebel cause, for he entertained me 
with a long conversation concerning his exploits 
in the secret service ; and of the other two who 
were still in camp he said one of them was a sut- 
ler, and the other sold photographs of our 
generals. 

We were pursuing our way in the darkness, 
talking in a low, confidential tone, when suddenly 
a number of cavalry dashed upon us and took us 
both prisoners. As soon as we were captured we 
were searched, and documents found on my 
companion which condemned him as a spy. We 
were then marched back to Louisville and put 
under guard. The next morning he was taken 
care of, and I was sent to General M.'s head- 
quarters. 

The next thing to be done was to find the other 
two spies. The sutler was found and put under 
arrest, and his goods confiscated, but the dealer in 
photographs had made his escape. 

I never dared go back to Louisville again, for I 
had ample reason to believe that my life would 
pay the penalty if I did. 



324 PRO-SLAVERY TROOPS. 

About this time the Ninth Army Corps was 
ordered to Vicksbiirg, where General Grant had 
ah'eady commenced his siege. While the troops 
waited at the depot for transportation a little inci- 
dent occurred which illustrates the spirit of the 
Kentucky soldiers on the slavery question. 

Two of our Kentucky regiments were stationed 
Rs guards at the depot, and on this occasion were 
amusing themselves by throwing stones at every 
poor negro who had occasion to pass within a 
stone's throw of them. 

A Michigan regiment marched into the depot 
on its way to Vicksburg, and along with it some 
smart, saucy darkies, in the capacity of servants. 
The native soldiers began the same game with 
them, by throwing stones at and abusing them ; 
but the Michigan men informed them that '4f 
they did not stop that kind of business immediate- 
ly they would find more work on hand than they 
could attend to," as they considered their servants 
a necessary part of their regiment, and would not 
permit them to be abused or insulted any more 
than if they were white men. 

This gave rise to a warm discussion between the 
troops, and ended in the Kentuckians forbidding 
and prohibiting the different regiments from taking 
a negro with them from the State under any cir- 
cumstances. Of course this incensed our patriotic 
troops, and in five minutes they were in line of 
battle arrayed against their pro- slavery brethren 



CRUELTY TO NEGROES. 325 

in arms. Bat before blood was shed the com- 
mander of the post was informed, and hastened to 
the spot to prevent further mischief. When the 
case was fully made known to him he could not 
settle the matter, for he was a Kentuckian by 
birth, and his sympathies were with the native 
troops — yet he knew if he should decide in their 
favor that a bloody fight would be the conse- 
quence, as the troops still remained in line of bat- 
tle awaiting the decision of the commander. He 
finally told them that they must remain there un- 
til he telegraphed to the headquarters of the de- 
partment and received an answer. Consequently 
the troops were detained two days waiting for the 
despatch that would decide the contest. The men 
became tired of the fun and marched back to 
camp. 

In consequence of this affair the poor negroes 
fared worse than ever, and the troops had no 
sooner gone back to camp than the Kentuckians 
swore they would hang every " nigger " that came 
into their camp. 

During the day I was passing through the de~ 
pot, and saw a little black urchin selling cakes and 
pies, who had no sooner made his appearance than 
the guards took his basket away from him. The 
boy commenced to cry, when four of the soldiers 
took hold of him, each one taking hold of a hand 
or foot, and pulled him almost limb from limb — 
just as I have seen cruel schoolboys torture frogs. 



326 PATIENT SUFFERING. 

When they threw him on the ground he could 
neither speak, cry, nor walk, but there he lay a 
little quivering, convulsive heap of pain and 
misery. 

The telegram came at last, and the troops were 
permitted to depart in peace — taking with them 
their colored friends, to the chagrin of the Ken- 
tucky guards. 

Before reaching Vicksburg I visited several 
hospitals where the wounded had been brought 
from those terrible battles preceding the siege of 
Vicksburg, where thousands lay, with all conceiva- 
ble sorts of wounds. 

Several I saw without either arms or legs, hav- 
ing been torn and mangled by shell so that it was 
impossible to save even a single limb — and yet 
they lived, and would probably recover. 

One handsome young man lay on one of the 
hospital boats who had lost both arms — a most 
noble specimen of the patient, cheerful, suffering 
soldier. 

Of this young man the Rev. Mr. Savage writes : 
'' There he lay upon his cot, armless, and knowing 
that this must be his condition through hfe ; but 
yet with a cheerful, happy countenance, and not a 
single word of complaint. I ministered to his 
wants, and as I cut up fruit in mouthfals, and put 
them in his mouth, he would say, 'Well, now, how 
good that is ! How kind of you ! The Lord will 
bless you for it. I don't see why you are so kind 



TRIUMPHANT DEATH. 327 

to me. As if any one could be too kind to a man 
who had suffered such a loss in defense of his 
country. His soul seemed to be resting peacefully 
upon Jesus amid all his great sufferings. One 
thing touched me exceedingly : As I spoke of his 
feelings, the tears coursed down his cheeks and 
lay upon them. He had no hands with which 
even to wipe away the tears from his own face ; 
and as I took a handkerchief and tenderly per- 
formed this office, that beautiful passage of scrip- 
ture occurred to me with a force it nev^er did be- 
fore : ' and God shall wipe away all tears from 
their eyes.' " 

Near by lay another young man, an officer, mor- 
tally wounded — fast breathing his life away — he 
seemed unconscious of his dying state. I asked 
the nurse, in a low whisper, if he knew he was 
dying, but before the nurse could reply, he looked 
up with a smile, and said : " Yes, yes, I know it. 
Praise God ! there is not a cloud between my soul 
and Jesus. I am waiting — I — waiting-^ — -.''^ 
These were his last words. A few moments more 
and his tongue was silent in death. 

But he's gone to rest in heaven above, 
To shig his Saviour's praise. 

One of the military agents at Nashville relates 
a most thrilling incident, which he witnessed in a 
hospital at that place. He says : 

*' Last evening, wdien passing by the post hos- 
pital, my attention was arrested by the singing, in 



328 RALLY ROUND THE FLAG. 

rather a loud voice, of ' Rally round the flag, boys,' 
by one of the patients inside. While listening to 
the beautiful music of that popular song, I ob- 
served to a nurse standing in the door-way, that 
the person singing must be in a very merry mood, 
and could not be very sick. ' You are mistaken, 
sir,' said he ; ' the poor fellow engaged in singing 
that good old song is now grappling with death — 
has been dying all day. I am his nurse,' he con- 
tinued, ' and the scene so affected me that I was 
obliged to leave the room. He is just about 
breathing his last.' 

'' I stepped into the ward, and true enough, the 
brave man was near his end. His eyes were al- 
ready fixed in death. He was struggling with all 
his remaining strength against the grim monster, 
■while at the same time there gushed forth from 
his patriotic soul incoherently the words : ' Rally 
round the flag, boys,' which had so often cheered 
him through his weary march, and braced him up 
when entering the field of blood in defense of his 
country. Finally he sank away into his death- 
slumber, and joined his Maker's command, that is 
marching onward to that far-off', better land. The 
last audible sound that escaped his lips was, ' Rally 
boys, rally once again ! ' As his eyes were closing, 
some dozen of his comrades joined in a solemn, 
yet beautiful hymn, appropriate to the occasion. 
Take it altogether, this was one of the most affect- 
ing scenes I have ever witnessed in a hospital. It 



PRAYER IN BATTLE. 329 

drew tears copiously from near one hundred of 
us. It occurred in the large ward which occupies 
the entire body of the church on Cherry street. 
The deceased was an Illinoisan, and had been 
wounded in one of the recent skirmishes." 

I noticed in the Western department that the 
chaplains were much more faithful to their trust, 
and attentive to the sick and wounded, than the 
chaplains in the Army of the Potomac — taking 
them as a class. 

One man in speaking of his chaplain, said : "He 
is one of the best men in the world ; he has a 
temperance meeting once a week, a prayer meet- 
ing twice a week, and other meetings as he 
is able to hold them ; and then he labors person- 
ally among the men. He also comforts the sick 
and dying. I saw him with one of our comrades 
before he died, watching and praying with him ; 
and when he died, he closed his eyes and prepared 
him for the grave with his own hands." 

Another said : " Over at Frederickstown, as our 
lines were beginning to give way, and many 
thought the day was lost, our chaplain stepped 
right out from the ranks, between us and the ene- 
my's lines, knelt down upon the ground, and lifted 
up his voice in most earnest prayer to God for di- 
vine help in that hour of need. I never felt so in 
all my life as I did at that moment. An inspira- 
tion, as from God, seemed to seize us all ; we ral- 
lied, charged, drove the enemy before us, and 



330 CARRYING THE WOUNDED. 

gained the important victory at Frederickstown, 
which perhaps has saved to us the State of Mis- 
sissippi." 

And yet another soldier gave testimony like the 
following, with regard to a chaplain who had 
followed his regiment through every battle in 
which it had participated. Said he: "He was 
with us day after day, and as soon as a man fell 
wounded, he would take him up in his arms and 
carry him out where the surgeon could take care 
of him ; and the last day I saAV him, his clothes, 
from head to foot, were literally dripping with the 
blood of dead and wounded men that he had car- 
ried from the battle-field." 

This noble chaplain reminds me of a brave sol- 
dier in the Army of the Potomac, who was in the 
hottest of the battle at Antietam, where the bul- 
lets were sweeping like death-hail through the 
ranks. The line wavered; there were strong 
symptoms of falling back on the part of his regi- 
ment. This man rushed toward the color-bearer, 
who stood hesitating, seized the standard and ad- 
vanced with firm and rapid step several paces in 
front of the foremost man ; then thrusting down 
the flag-staff into the ground he looked up at the 
banner, then at the wavering line, and said — 
*' There, boys, come up to that ! " 



1 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

A UNIONIST FROM THE REBEL ARMY HIS TESTIMONY SOUTH- 
ERN HOSPITALS PATRIOTISM FEMALE RECRUITING CRINO- 
LINE " SWEET LITTLE MAN " CONFEDERATE SYSTEM NORTH 

AND SOUTH CONTRASTED REBEL IMPRESSMENT BROTHERS* 

CRUELTY DYING FOR THE UNION FATE OF A TENNESSEE 

PATRIOT ON THE MISSISSIPPI INVISIBLE ATTRACTION AN 

IMPORTANT QUESTION MORAL SUBLIMITY CONTRABAND'S JU- 
BILEE. 

AT one of the hospitals near Yicksburg I met a 
man who had served a year in the Confed- 
erate army, having been conscripted by the rebels, 
and remained that length of time before he found 
an opportunity to escape. 

He Avas an educated, and highly intelligent 
young man, and it was deeply interesting to listen 
to his account of the Southern side of this rebel- 
lion. He told me that the Southern people, and 
especially the ladies, were much more patriotic 
than the people of the North. 

After a battle, the citizens, both men and wo- 
men, come with one accord to assist in taking care 
of the wounded; bringing with them, gratui- 
tously, every article of comfort and convenience 
that their means will admit, and their patriotism 
suggest. 

Farmers come to the hospitals with loads of pro- 



332 CRINOLINE. 

visions, and the women come with fruits, wines, 
jellies, etc., and cheerfully submit to the hardships 
and fatigue of hospital labor without the slightest 
remuneration. Said he : '' The women down South 
are the best recruiting officers — for they absolutely 
refuse to tolerate, or admit to their society, any 
young man who refuses to enlist ; and very often 
send their lovers, who have not enlisted, skirts and 
crinoline, with a note attached, suggesting the ap- 
propriateness of such a costume unless they donned 
the Confederate uniform at once." 

I have often thought of this trait of the South- 
ern ladies' character, and contrasted it with the 
flattering receptions so lavishly bestowed upon 
our able-bodied "home guards," by the New-Eng- 
land fair ones who profess to love the old flag and 
despise its enemies. And I have wondered if an 
extensive donation of "crinoline" would not be 
more effectual in filling up our ranks, than grace- 
ful bows and bewitching smiles. And I would 
mildly suggest that each package of crinoline be 
accompanied by the following appropriate lines : 

Now, while our soldiere are fighting our battles, 

Each at his post to do all tliat he can, 
Down among rebels and contraband chattels, 

What are you doing, my sweet little man? 

All the brave boys under canvas are sleeping, 
All of them pressing to march with the van, 

Far from their homes where their sweethearts are weeping ; 
What are you woitiiig for, sweet little man? 

You, witli the terrible warlike mustaches, 
Fit for a colonel or cIulT of a clan. 



^ 



CONFEDERATE SYSTEM. 333 

You with the waist made for sword-belts and sashes, 
Where are your shouJder-straps, sweet httle man? 

"We send you the buttonless garments of woman 1 

Cover your face lest it freckle or tan ; 
Muster the apron-string guards on the common — 

That is the corps for the sweet little man. 

All the fair maidens about him shall cluster, 
Tluck the white feathers from bonnet and fan^ 

Make him a plume like a lurkey-wing duster — 
That is the crest for the sweet little man. 

Give him for escort a file of young misses. 

Each of them armed with a deadl}^ rattan, 
They shall defend him from laughter and hisses 

Aimed by low boys at the sweet httle man. 

And now, while I am contrasting the conduct 
of the North and South, I may as well give an- 
other testimony in favor of the confederate system. 

The following testimony comes from one who 
has served in the rebel army in the capacity of 
surgeon. He says : "The confederate military au- 
thorities have complete control of the press, so 
that nothing is ever allowed to appear in print 
which can in any way give information to the 
North or prove a clue to Southern movements. In 
this it appears to me that they have an unspeaka- 
ble advantage over the North, with its numberless 
papers and hundreds of correspondents in the 
loyal army. With what the correspondents tell 
and surmise, and what the Confederates find out 
through spies and informers of various kinds, they 
are able to see through many of the plans of the 
Union forces before they are put into execution. 



334 NORTH AND SOUTH. 

No more common remark did I hear than this as 
officers were reading the Northern papers : ' See 
what d — d fools those Yankees are. General 

A has left B for C . We will cut 

him off Why the Northern generals or the Sec- 
retary of War tolerate this freedom of news we 
cannot imagine. ' " 

And he further adds: "Every daily paper I 
have read since I came North has contained in- 
formation, either by direct statement or implica- 
tion, by which the enemy can profit. If we meant 
to play into the hands of the rebels, we could 
hardly do it more successfully than our papers are 
doing it daily. Sure am I that if a Southern pa- 
per contained such information of their movements 
as do the Northern of ours, the editor's neck would 
not be safe an hour. But some will say : ' We 
often see information quoted from the Southern 
papers of their movements.' Never, until the 
movement has been carried out. It is always safe 
to conclude, if you see in a Southern paper any 
statement with regard to the movement of troops, 
or that the army is about to do a certain thing, 
that it will not be done, but something different." 

Freedom of opinion and of the press is certainly 
a precious boon, but when it endangers the lives 
of our soldiers and frustrates the plans of our Gov- 
ernment, surely it is time to adopt measures to 
control it, just as much as it is necessary to arrest 
the spies who come within our lines. 



REBEL IMPRESSMENT. 335 

Another relates the following touching incident 
of the Southern style of increasing their army, and 
punishing offenders : ^' When the rebels were 
raising a force in Eastern Tennessee, two brothers 
by the name of Rowland volunteered. A younger 
brother was a Union man, and refusing to enlist, 
was seized and forced into the army. He con- 
stantly protested against his impressment, but 
without avail. He then warned them that he 
would desert the first opportunity, as he would 
not fight against the cause of right and good gov- 
ernment. They were inexorable, and he was torn 
from his family and hurried to the field. At the 
battle of Fort Donaldson, Rowland escaped from 
the rebels in the second day's fight, and immedi- 
ately joined the loyal army. Though now to fight 
against his own brothers, he felt that he was in a 
righteous cause, and contending for a worthy end. 
In the battle of Pittsburg Landing he was taken 
prisoner by the very regiment to which he had 
formerly belonged. This sealed his fate. On his 
way to Corinth several of his old comrades, among 
them his two brothers, attempted to kill him, one 
of them nearly running him through with a bayo- 
net. He was, however, rescued by the guard, 
ind brought to camp. Three days after the re- 
treating army had reached Corinth, General Har- 
dee, in whose division was the regiment claiming 
this man as a deserter, gave orders to have Row- 
land executed. About four o'clock in the after- 



336 DYING FOR THE UNION. 

noon, the same day, some ten thousand Tennessee 
troops were drawn up in two parallel lines, facing 
inward, three hundred yards apart. The doomed 
man, surrounded by the guard, detailed from his 
own regiment to shoot him, marched with a firm 
step into the middle of the space between the two 
lines of troops. Here his grave was already dug, 
and a black pine coffin lay beside it. No minister 
of religion oflPered to direct his thoughts to a gra- 
cious Saviour. The sentence was read, and he 
was asked if he had anything to say why it should 
not be executed. He spoke in a firm, decided 
tone, in a voice which could be heard by many 
hundreds, and nearly in the following words : 
' Fellow-soldiers, Tennesseeans — 1 was forced into 
Southern service against my will, and against my 
conscience. I told them I would desert the first 
opportunity I found, and I did it. I was always 
a Union man, and never denied it ; and I joined 
the Union army to do all the damage I could to 
the Confederates. I believe the Union cause is 
right, and will triumph. They can kill me but 
once, and I am not afraid to die in a good cause. 
My only request is, that you let my wife and fam- 
ily know that I died in supporting my principles. 
My brothers there would shoot me if they had a 
chance, but I forgive them. Now shoot me through 
the heart, that I may die instantly.' 

'' After Rowland had ceased to speak, he took off 
hat, coat and neck-tie, and laying his hand on his 



SOUTHERN EXECUTION. 337 

heart, he said, "Aim here." The sergeant of the 
guard advanced to tie his hands and blindfold 
him. He asked the privilege of standing untied, 
but the request was not granted. His eyes were 
bandaged, he knelt upon his coffin and engaged 
in prayer for several minutes, and then said he 
was ready. The lieutenant of the guard then gave 
the word, ' Fire ! ' and twenty-four muskets were 
discharged. When the smoke lifted, the body had 
fallen backward, and was still. Several bullets 
had passed through his head, and some through 
his heart. His body was tumbled into the rough 
pine box, and was buried by the men who shot 
him." 

Such was the fate of a Tennessee patriot, who 
was not afraid to declare his love for the Union, 
and his faith in its final triumph, in the very pres- 
ence of some of the leading traitors, and of thou- 
sands of his rebellious countrymen, a moment 
before sealing his patriotism with his blood. 

On board of a transport, on the Mississippi river, 
as we glided toward our destination, I sat quietly 
listening to the variety of topics which was being 
discussed around me, until a peculiarly sweet voice 
caused me to turn and look in the direction from 
whence it proceeded. 

Reader, has your heart ever been taken by 
storm, in consequence of the mere intonations of 
a voice — ere you beheld the individual who gave 
A^^hem utterance ? On this occasion, I turned and 

22 



338 INVISIBLE ATTRACTION. 

saw "one of God's images cut in ebony." Time 
had wrinkled his face, and the frosts of four-score 
winters had whitened his woolly locks, palsied his 
limbs, and dimmed his vision. He had been a 
slave all his life, and now, at the eleventh hour, 
when " the silver cord was almost loosed, and the 
golden bowl well nigh broken," he was liberated 
from bondage, and was rejoicing in freedom from 
slavery, and in that freedom wherewith Christ 
makes His children free. 

By some invisible attraction, a large crowd gath- 
ered around this old, decrepid slave, and every 
eye was fixed upon his sable withered face, as he 
gave a brief and touching history of his slave life. 

When he had finished, the soldiers eagerly began 
to ask questions — but suddenly the old colored 
man turned querist, and raising himself up, and 
leaning forward toward the crowd, he asked, in a 
voice strangely thrilling and solemn, ''Are any of 
you soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ '? " 

One looked at another with evident embarrass- 
ment ; but at length some one stammered out — 
" We don't know exactly ; that is a hard question, 
Uncle." "Oh no," said he, " dat is not a hard 
question — if you be soldiers of Christ you know it, 
you must know it ; de Lord does not do His work 
so poorly dat His people don't know when it 's 
done. Now jes' let me say a word more : Dear 
soldiers — before eber you lebe dis boat — before 
eber you go into anoder battle — enlist for Jesus; 



MORAL SUBLIMITY. 339 

become soldiers ob de blessed Redeemer, and you 
are safe ; safe when de battle rages, safe when de 
chills ob death come, safe when de world 's on 
fire." 

One of the men, desirous of changing the con- 
versation, said : " Uncle, are you blind ? " He re- 
plied : '' Oh no, bless de Lord, I am not blind to 
de tings ob de spirit. I see by an eye ob faith 
my blessed Saviour sitting at de right hand ob 
God, and I'll soon see Him more clearly, for Jesus 
loves dis old blind darkie, and will soon take him 
home." 

Now, when we talk of moral sublimity we are 
apt to point to Alexander conquering the world, 
to Hannibal surmounting the Alps, to Cassar cross- 
ing the Rubicon, or to Lawrence wrapping him- 
self in the American flag and crying ^' Don't give 
up the ship ! " But in my opinion here was a 
specimen of moral sublimity equal to anything 
that ever graced the pages of history or was ever 
exhibited upon a battle-field — a poor old, blind, 
palsied slave, resting upon the " Rock of Ages," 
while the waves of affliction dashed like mountains 
at his feet ; yet, looking up to heaven, and trust- 
ing in the great and precious promises, he gave 
glory to God, and triumphed over pain and dis- 
ease, rejoicing even in tribulation. 

While the old slave was talking to the soldiers 
a number of young darkies came forward, and 
when the conversation ceased they all struck up 



340 CONTRABAND JUBILEE. 

the following piece, and sang it with good effect : 

Oh, praise an' tanks! De Lord he come 

To set de people free ; 
An' massa tink it day ob doom, 

An' we ob jubilee. 
De Lord dat heap de Red Sea waves, 

He jes' as strong as den ; 
He say de word — we las' night slaves. 

To-day de Lord's free men. 

Chorus — De yam will grow, de cotton blow, 
We'll liab de rice an' corn, 
nebber you fear if nebber you hear 
De driber blow his horn. 

Die massa on his trabbles gone 

He lebe de laud behind ; 
De Lord's breff blow him furder on, 

Like corn-shuck in de wind. 
We own de hoe, we own de plow, 

We own de hands dat hold; 
We sell de pig, we sell de cow, 

But neber chile be sold. 

Chorus — De yam will grow, etc. 

We know de promise nebber fail. 

An' nebber lie de Word ; 
So, like de 'postles in de jail. 

We waited for de Lord. 
An' now He open ebery door, 

An' trow away de key. 
He tink we lub Him so before, 

We lub Him better free. 

Chorus — De yam will grow, etc. 

Then a collection was taken up among the sol 
diers and presented to the old blind colored man, 
who wept with delight as he received it, for said 
he — '' I hab no home, no money, an' no friend, 
but de Lord Jesus." 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

ARRIVAL AT VICKSBURG ITS SURROUNDINGS GRAtfT^S \RMY^» 

ASSAULT ON THE REBEL WORKS^ — THE SEVEN COLOR-BEAREkS 

PEMBERTOn's HARANGUE IN THE TRENCHES — SUFFERINGS 

OF THE WOUNDED PEMBERTOn's PROPOSED CAPITULATION 

grant's reply TERMS OF SURRENDER OCCUPATION OF THE 

CITY LOSS OF THE ENEMY COMPLIMENTARY LETTER 

grant's SUCCESS ATTACHMENT OF HIS SOLDIERS "FIGHT- 
ING dick" GOLD LACE REBEL SUFFERINGS — SIGHTS IN 

VICKSBURG INCIDENTS OF THE SIEGE CAVE LIFE. 

OUR troops at length joined General Grant's 
army near Vicksburg, where those veterans 
had been digging and fighting so many weeks. 

The city of Vicksburg is nestled among numer- 
ous terraced hills, and would under other circum- 
stances present a magnificent and romantic ap- 
pearance ; but I could not at that time realize its 
beauty, for the knowledge of the sufferings and 
distress of thousands within its walls detracted 
materially from its outward grandeur. 

The enemy's works had consisted of a series of 

redoubts extending from Haines' Bluff to the War- 

renton road, a distance of some ten miles. Ttwas 

nst plateau, upon which a multitude of little 

V seemed to have been sown broadcast, giving 

enemy a position from which it could sweep 



342 p Emberton's harangue. 

every neighboring crest and enfilade every ap- 
proach. But the rebels had already been driven 
from this position after a severe struggle. 

On the twenty-second of May, at two o'clock in 
the morning, heavy guns were opened upon the 
rebel works, and continued until ten o'clock, when 
a desperate assault was made by three corps mov- 
ing simultaneously. After a severe engagement 
and heavy loss the flag of the Seventh Missouri 
was planted on one of the rebel parapets, after 
seven color-bearers had been shot down. 

After this contest the rebel general, Pemberton, 
addressed his men as follows: "You have heard 
that I was incompetent and a traitor, and that it 
was my intention to sell Yicksburg. Follow me, 
aiid you will see the cost at which 1 will sell Yicks- 
burg. When the last pound of beef, bacon and 
flour, the last grain of corn, the last cow and hog, 
horse and dog shall have been consumed, and the 
last man shall have perished in the trenches, then, 
and not till then, will I sell Yicksburg." 

It became evident that the works could not be 
carried by assault, and that nothing but a regular 
siege could reduce the fortifications. 

While the sige was in progress our soldiers en- 
dured hardships, privations and sufferings which 
words can but inadequately express. Our men 
were closely packed in the trenches, often in water 
to the knees, and not daring to lift their heads 
above the brow of the rifle pits, as the rebel sharp- 



pemberton's proposal. 343 

shooters lost no time in saluting every unfortunate 
head which made its appearance above ground. 

The sufferings of the wounded were extreme. 
Those who were wounded during the day in the 
trenches nearest the city could not be removed 
until the curtain of night fell upon the scene and 
screened them from the vigilant eye of the enemy. 

General Grant steadily approached the doomed 
city by means of saps and mines, and continued to 
blow up their defenses, until it was evident that 
another day's work would complete the capture of 
the city. 

Such was the position of affairs on the third of 
July, when General Pemberton proposed an ar- 
mistice and capitulation. 

Major General Bowen, of the Confederate army, 
was the bearer of a despatch to General Grant, 
under a flag of truce, proposing the surrender of 
the city, which was as follows : 

Headquarters, Vicksburg, | 
July 3c/, 1863. j 
Major General Grant, commanding United States 

forces: 

General — I have the honor to propose to you 
an armistice for — hours, with a view of arranging 
terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To this 
end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three 
commissioners to meet a like number to be named 
by yourself, at such place and hour to-day as you 
may find convenient. I make this proposition to 



344 GRANTS REPLY. 

save the further effusion of blood, which must 
otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling 
myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet 
indefinite period. This communication will be 
handed to you, under flag of truce, by Major Gen- 
eral James Bo wen. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

J. C. PEMBERTON. 

To which General Grant replied : 
Headquarters, Department of Tennessee, \ 
In the Field, near Vicksburg, V 
July 3c/, 1863. j 

Lieutenant General J. C. Pemberton, commanding 
Confederate forces, etc. : 

General — Your note of this date, just received^ 
proposes an armistice of several hours for the pur- 
pose of arranging terms of capitulation, through 
commissioners to be appointed, etc. The effusion 
of blood you propose stopping by this course can 
be ended at any time you may choose by an un- 
conditional surrender of the city and garrison. 
Men who have shown so much endurance and 
courage as those now in Vicksburg will always 
challenge the respect of an adversary, and, I can 
assure you, will be treated with all the respect due 
them as prisoners of war. I do not favor the 
proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange 
terms of capitulation, because I have no other 
terms than those indicated above. 



TERMS OF SURRENDER. 345 

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient 
servant, 

U. S. GRANT. 

Then the following document was made out by 
General Grant, and submitted for acceptance : 

General — In conformity with the agreement of 
this afternoon, I will submit the following propo- 
sition for the surrender of the city of Yicksburg, 
public stores, etc. On your accepting the terms 
proposed, I will march in one division, as a guard, 
and take possession at eight o'clock to-morrow 
morning. As soon as paroles can be made out 
and signed by the officers and men, you will be 
allowed to march out of our lines, the officers 
taking with them their regimental clothing, and 
staif, field and cavalry officers, one horse each. 
The rank and file will be allow^ed all their cloth- 
ing, but no other property. If these conditions 
are accepted, any amount of rations you may deem 
necessary can be taken from the stores you now 
have, and also the necessary cooking utensils for 
preparing them ; thirty wagons also, counting two 
two-horse or mule teams as one. You will be al- 
lowed to transport such articles as cannot be car- 
ried along. The same conditions will be allowed 
to all sick and wounded officers and privates as 
fast as they become able to travel. The paroles 
for these latter must be signed, however, whilst 
officers are present authorized to sign the roll of 
prisoners. 



346 SURRENDER OF THE CITY. 

After some further correspondence on both 
sides this proposition was accepted, and on the 
fourth of July the Federals took possession of the 
city of Vicksburg. 

A paragraph from General Grant's official des- 
patch will best explain the result of his campaign, 
together with the surrender of Vicksburg : '' The 
defeat of the enemy in five battles outside of 
Vicksburg, the occupation of Jackson, the capital 
of the State of Mississippi, and the capture of 
Vicksburg and its garrison and munitions of war, 
a loss to the enemy of thirty-seven thousand pris- 
ers, among whom were fifteen general officers, at 
least ten thousand killed and wounded, and among 
the killed Generals Tracy, Tilghman and Green, 
and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of stragglers, 
who can never be collected and organized. Arms 
and munitions of war for an army of sixty thou- 
sand have fallen into our hands, besides a large 
amount of other public property, consisting of 
railroads, locomotives, cars, steamboats, cotton, 
etc., and much was destroyed to prevent our cap- 
turing it." 

On the thirteenth of July the President sent an 
autograph letter to General Grant, of which the 
following is a copy : 

Executive Mansion, Washington, -) 
July Uth, 1863. ) 
To Major General Grant : 

My Dear General — I do not remember that 



SECRET OF SUCCESS. 347 

you and I ever met personally. I write this now 
as a grateful acknowledgment for the almost ines- 
timable service you have done the country. I 
wish to say a word further. When you first 
reached the vicinity of Vicksburg I thought you 
should do what you finally did — march the troops 
across the neck, run the batteries with the trans- 
ports, and thus go below ; and I never had any 
faith, except a general hope that you knew better 
than I, that the Yazoo Pass expedition and the like 
could succeed. When you got below and took 
Port Gipson, Grand Gulf and vicinity, I thought 
you should go down the river and join Banks; 
and when you turned northward, east of the Big 
Black, I feared it was a mistake. I now wish to 
make a personal acknowledgment that you were 
right and I was wrong. 

Yours, very truly, 

A. LINCOLN. 

It is stated on good authority that at the time 
the news of Grant's success reached the President, 
there were several gentlemen present some of 
whom had just been informing Mr. Lincoln that 
there were great complaints against General Grant 
with regard to his intemperate habits. After 
reading the telegram announcing the flill of Yicks- 
burg, the President turned to his anxious friends 
of the temperance question and said: 

" So I understand Grant drinks whiskey to ex.' 
cess ? " 



348 GOLD LACE. 

''Yes," was the reply. 

" What whiskey does he drink ? " 

" What whiskey ? " doubtfully queried his hearers. 

'' Yes. Is it Bourbon or Monongahela? " 

''Why do you ask, Mr. President?" 

"Because if it makes him win victories like that 
at Yicksburg, I will send a demijohn of the same 
kind to every general in the army." 

It is also stated on the same authority that Gene- 
ral Grant is strictly temperate. 

His men are almost as much attached to him as 
are the Army of the Potomac to General McClel- 
lan. He is a true soldier, and shares all the hard- 
ships with his men, sleeping on the ground in the 
open air, and eating hard bread and salt pork with 
as good a grace as any private soldier. 

He seldom wears a sword, except when abso- 
lutely necessary, and frequently wears a semi- 
military coat and low crowned hat. 

The mistakes which people used to make, when 
coming to headquarters to see the general, often 
reminded me of a genuine anecdote which is told 
of General Richardson, or " Fighting Dick," as we 
familiarly called him. It occurred when the 
troops were encamped near Washington, and was 
as follows : 

The general was sauntering along toward a 
fort, which was in course of erection not far from 
headquarters, dressed in his usual uniform for fa- 
tigue, namely : citizen's pants, undress coat, and 



POMPOSITY. 349 

an old straw hat which had once be.en white, but 
was now two or three shades nearer the general's 
own complexion. 

Along came one of those dashing cit}^ staff offi- 
cers, in white gloves, and trimmed off with gold 
lace to the very extreme of military regulations. 
He was in search of General Richardson, but did 
not know him personally. Reining up his horse 
some little distance from the general, he shouted : 
" hallo, old fellow ! can you tell me where General 
Richardson's headquarters are ? " 

The general pointed out the tent to him, and 
the young officer went dashing along, without ever 
saying "thank you." The general then turned on 
his heel and went back to his tent, where he found 
the officer making a fuss because there was no or- 
derly to hold his horse. Turning to General R., 
as he came up, he said : " Won't you hold my 
horse while I find General R. ? " ''Oh yes, cer- 
tainly," said he. 

After hitching the horse to a post near by for 
that purpose, the general walked into the tent, 
and, confronting young pomposity, he said in his 
peculiar twang, "Well, sir, what will you have?" 

When the Federal troops marched into Vicks- 
burg, what a heart-sickening sight it presented; 
the half-famished inhabitants had crawled from 
their dens and caves in the earth, to find their 
houses demolished by shell, and all their pleasant 
places laid waste. 



350 SIGHTS IN VICKSBURG. 

But the appearance of the soldiers as they came 
from the entrenchments covered with mud and 
bespattered with the blood of their comrades who 
had been killed or wounded, would have touched 
a heart of stone. 

The poor horses, and mules, too, were a sad 
sight, for they had fared even worse than the sol- 
diers — for there was no place of safety for them — 
not even entrenchments, and they had scarcely 
anything at all to eat for weeks, except mulberry 
leaves. 

One man, in speaking of the state of affairs in 
the city, during the siege, said: "The terror of 
the women and children, their constant screams 
and wailings over the dead bodies of their friends, 
mingled as they were with the shrieks of bursting 
shell, and the pitiful groans of the dying, was 
enough to appall the stoutest heart." And others 
said it was a strange fact that the women could 
not venture out of their caves a moment without 
either being killed or wounded, while the men 
and officers walked or rode about with but little 
loss of life comparatively. 

A lady says : " Sitting in my cave, one evening, 
I heard the most heart-rending shrieks and groans, 
and upon making inquiry, I was told that a mother 
had taken her child into a cave about a hundred 
yards from us, and having laid it on its little bed, 
as the poor woman thought, in safety, she took 
her seat near the entrance of the cave. A mortar- 



REBEL SUFFERINGS. 351 

shell came rushing through the air, and fell upon 
the cave, and bursting in the ground entered the 
cave ; a fragment of the shell mashed the head of 
the little sleeper, crushing out the young life, and 
leaving the distracted mother to pierce the heavens 
with her cries of agony." 

How blightingly the hand of war lay upon that 
bnce flourishing city ! The closed and desolate 
houses, the gardens with open gates, and the poor, 
starving mules, standing amid the flowers, picking 
ofl* every green leaf, to allay their hunger, pre- 
sented a sad picture. 

I will give the following quotation as a specimen 
of cave life in Vicksburg : ''I was sitting near the 
entrance of my cave about five o'clock in the af- 
ternoon, when the bombardment commenced more 
furiously than usual, the shells falling thickly 
around us, causing vast columns of earth to fly 
upward, mingled with smoke. As usual, I was 
uncertain whether to remain within, or to run out. 
As the rocking and trembling of the earth was 
distinctly felt, and the explosions alarmingly near, 
I stood within the mouth of the cave ready to 
make my escape, should one chance to fall above 
our domicile. 

'^ In my anxiety I was startled by the shouts of 
the servants, and a most fearful jar and rocking of 
the earth, followed by a deafening explosion, such 
as I had never heard before. The cave filled in- 
Btantly with smoke and dust. I stood there, with 



352 CAVE LIFE. 

a tingling, prickling sensation in my head, hands 
and feet, and with confused brain. Yet alive ! 
was the first glad thought that came to me — child, 
servants, all here, and saved ! 

" I stepped out and found a group of persons be- 
fore my cave, looking anxiously for me, and lying 
all around were freshly- torn rose bushes, arbor- 
vitse trees, large clods of earth, splinters, and 
pieces of plank. 

" A mortar-shell had struck the corner of the 
cave ; fortunately, so near the brow of the hill, 
that it had gone obliquely into the earth, explod- 
ing as it went, breaking large masses from the 
sid3 of the hill — tearing away the fence, the shrub- 
bery and flowers — sweeping all like an avalanche 
down near the entrance of my poor refuge. 

*' On another occasion I sat reading in safety, I 
imagined, when the unmistakable whirring of 
Parrott shells told us that the battery we so much 
dreaded had opened from the entrenchments. I 
ran to the entrance to call the servants in. Imme- 
diately after they entered a shell struck the earth 
a few feet from the entrance, burying itself with- 
out exploding. 

" A man came in, much frightened, and asked 
permission to remain until the danger was over. 
He had been there but a short time when a Par- 
rott shell came whirling in at the entrance and fell 
in the center of the cave before us, and lay there, 
the fuse still smoking. 



REBEL SEBASTOPOL. 353 

" Our eyes were fastened upon that terrible mis- 
sile of death as by the fascination of a serpent, 
while we expected every moment that the terrific 
explosion would take place. I pressed my child 
closer to my heart and drew nearer the wall. Our 
fate seemed certain — our doom was sealed. 

" Just at this dreadful moment, George, a negro 
boy, rushed forward, seized the shell, and threw it 
into the street, then ran swiftly in the opposite 
direction. 

''Fortunately the fuse became extinguished and 
the shell fell harmless to the ground, and is still 
looked upon as a monument of terror." 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

WESTERN GIBRALTAR THE "LEAD MINERS " THE PALMETTO 

EXCHANGED FOR THE STARS AND STRIPES ENTHUSIASM OF 

TROOPS SUFFERINGS FORGOTTEN 1 AM ATTACKED BY FEVER 

—UNFIT FOR DUTY " VICKSBURG IS OURS " SPIRIT YEARN- 
INGS "rock ME TO SLEEP MOTHEr" IMPOSITION OF 

STEAMBOAT OFFICERS GRANT^S CARE FOR HIS MEN ^ 

BURSTING OF A SHELL IN CAMP CONSEQUENCES SPEECH- 
LESS AGONY 1 AM RELEASED FROM DUTY MY TRIP TO 

CAIRO MISS MARY SAFFORD ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON. 

IT was a proud day for the Union army when 
General U. S. Grant marched his victorious 
troops into the rebel Sebastopol — or "the western 
Gibraltar," as the rebels were pleased to term it. 
The troops marched in triumphantly, the Forty- 

23 



354 ATTACKED BY FEVER. 

fifth Illinois, the ''lead miners, " leading the van, 
and as they halted in front of the fine white mar- 
ble Court House, and flung out the National ban- 
ner to the breeze, and planted the battle-worn 
flags bearing the dear old stars and stripes — where 
the "palmetto" had so recently floated — then went 
up tremendous shouts of triumphant and enthusi- 
astic cheers, which were caught up and re-echoed 
by the advancing troops until all was one wild 
scene of joy ; and the devastated city and its 
miserable inhabitants were forgotten in the tri- 
umph of the hour. 

This excitement proved too much for me, as I 
had been suffering from fever for several days 
previous, and had risen from my cot and mounted 
my horse for the purpose of witnessing the crown- 
ing act of the campaign. Now it was over, and I 
was exhausted and weak as a child. 

I was urged to go to a hospital, but refused ; 
yet at length I was obliged to report myself unfit 
for duty, but still persisted in sitting up most of 
the time. Oh what dreary days and nights I 
passed in that dilapidated city ! A slow fever had 
fastened itself upon me, and in spite of all my for- 
titude and determination to shake it off", I was 
each day becoming more surely its victim. 

I could not bear the shouts of the men, or their 
songs of triumph which rung out upon every 
breeze — one of which I can never forget, as I 
heard it sung until my poor brain was distracted, 



*'VICKSBURG IS OURS." 355 

and in my hours of delirium I kept repeating 
" Yicksburg is ours,'' " Vicksburg is ours," in a 
manner more amusing than musical 

I will here quote a few verses which I think are 
the same : 

Hark] borne upon the Southern breeze, 
As whispers breathed above the trees, 
; Or as the swell from off the seas, 

In summer showers, 
Fall softly on the ears of men 
Strains sweetly indistinct, and then — 
Hist 1 listen I catch the sound again — 

" Vicksburg is ours J " 

O'er sea- waves beating on the shore, 

'Bove the thunder-storm and tempest o'er, ' 

O'er cataracts in headlong roar, 

High, high it towers. 
O'er all the breastworks and the moats 
The Starry Flag in triumph floats, 
And heroes thunder from their throats 

'* Vicksburg is ours 1 " 

Spread all your banners in the sky, 
The sword of victory gleams on high, 
Our conquering eagles upward fly, 

And kiss the stars,- 
For Liberty the Gods awake. 
And hurl the shattered foes a wreck. 
The Northern arms make strong to break 

The Southern hars. 

AU honor to the brave and true 

Who fought the bloody battles througlj, • 

And from the ramparts victory drew 

Where Vicksburg cowers ; 
And o'er the trenches, o'er the slain, 
Through iron hail and leaden rain, 
Still plunging onward, might and main, 

Made Vicksburg ours. 



356 SPIRIT YEARNINGS. 

I think I realized, in those hours of feverish 
restlessness and pain, the heart-yearnings for the 
touch of a mother's cool hand upon my brow, 
which I had so often heard the poor sick and 
wounded soldiers speak of Oh how I longed for 
one gentle caress from her loving hand ! and when 
1 would sometimes fall into a quiet slumber, and 
forget my surroundings, I would often wake up 
and imagine my mother sat beside me, and would 
only realize my sad mistake when looking in the 
direction I supposed her to be, there would be 
seen some great bearded soldier, wrapped up in 
an overcoat^ smoking his pipe. 

The following lines in some measure express my 
spirit-longings for the presence of my mother in 
those nights of torturing fever and days of languor 
and despondency : 

Backward, turn backward, Time, in your flight; 
Make me a child again, just for to-night 1 
Mother, come from the far-distant shore, 
Take me again to your heart as of yore ; 
Over my slumbers j'our loving watch keep — 
Eock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep. 

iti * Hf ^ i!f i^ * 

Backward, flow backward, tide of the years I 
I am so weary of toils and of tears, 
Toil without recompense — tears all in vain — 
Take them, and give me my childhood again. 
I have grown weary of warfare and strife, 
Weary of bartering my health and my life, 
Weary of sowing for others to reap — 
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep. 

After the fall of Vicksburg a large proportion 



IMPOSITION. 357 

of the soldiers in that vicinity, who had fought so 
bravely, endured so many hardships, and lain in 
the entrenchments so many weary weeks during 
the siege, were permitted to visit their homes on 
furlough. 

In view of this General Grant issued a special 
order forbidding steamboat officers to charge more 
than five dollars to enlisted men, and seven dollars 
to officers, as fare between Vicksburg and Cairo. 
Notwithstanding this order the captains of steam- 
ers were in the habit of charging from fifteen to 
thirty dollars apiece. 

On one occasion one of those steamers had on 
board an unusually large number of soldiers, 
said to be over one thousand enlisted men and 
nearly two hundred and fifty officers, en route 
for home on leave of absence ; and all had paid 
from twenty to twenty-five dollars each. But just 
as the boat was about to push off from the wharf 
an order came from General Grant requiring the 
money to be refunded to men and officers over 
and above the stipulated sum mentioned in a pre^ 
vious order, or the captain to have his boat confis^ 
cated and submit himself to imprisonment for 
disobedience of orders. Of course the captain 
handed over the money, and amid cheers for Gen- 
eral Grant, sarcastic smiles, and many amusing and 
insinuating speeches and doubtful compliments to 
the captain, the men pocketed the recovered 
*' greenbacks," and went on their way rejoicing. 



858 BURSTING OF A SHELL. 

When the General was told of the imposition 
practiced by the boatmen on his soldiers, he re- 
plied : "I will teach them, if they need the lesson, 
that the men who have periled their lives to open 
the Mississippi for their benefit cannot be imposed 
upon with impunity." 

A noble trait in the character of this brave gen- 
eral is that he looks after the welfare of his men 
as one who has to give an account of his steward- 
ship, or of those intrusted to his care. 

I remained in my tent for several days, not be- 
ing able to walk about, or scarcely able to sit up. 
I was startled one day from my usual quietude by 
the bursting of a shell which had lain in front of 
my tent, and from which no danger was appre- 
hended ; yet it burst at a moment when a number 
of soldiers were gathered round it — and oh, what 
sad havoc it made of those cheerful, happy boys 
of a moment previous ! Two of them were killed 
instantly and four were wounded seriously, and 
the tent where I lay was cut in several places with 
fragments of shell, the tent poles knocked out of 
their places, and the tent filled with dust and 
smoke. 

One poor colored boy had one of his hands torn 
off at the wrist ; and of all the wounded that I 
have ever seen I never heard such unearthly yells 
and unceasing lamentations as that boy poured 
forth night and day ; ether and chloroform were 
alike unavailing in hushing the cries of the poor 



A mother's agony. 359 

sufferer. At length the voice began to grow 
weaker, and soon afterwards ceased altogether; 
and upon making inquiry I found he had died 
groaning and crying until his voice was hushed in 
death. 

The mother and sister of one of the soldiers who 
was killed by the explosion of the shell arrived a 
short time after the accident occurred, and it was 
truly a most pitiful sight to see the speechless 
grief of those stricken ones as they sat beside the 
senseless clay of that beloved son and brother. 

All my soldierly qualities seemed to have fled, 
and I was again a poor, cowardly, nervous, whin- 
ing woman ; and as if to make up for lost time, 
and to give vent to my long pent up feelings, I 
could do nothing but weep hour after hour, until 
it would seem that my head was literally a foun- 
tain of tears and my heart one great burden of 
sorrow. All the horrid scenes that I had wit- 
nessed during the past two years seemed now be- 
fore me with vivid distinctness, and I could think 
of nothing else. 

It was under these circumstances that I made up 
my mind to leave the army ; and when once my 
mind is made up on any subject I am very apt to 
act at once upon that decision. So it was in this 
case. I sent for the surgeon and told him I was 
not able to remain longer — that I would certainly 
die if I did not leave immediately. 

The good old surgeon concurred in my opinion, 



360 I LEAVE THE SERVICE. 

and made out a certificate of disability, and I was 
forthwith released from further duty as "Nurse 
and Spy" in the Federal army. 

The very next day I embarked for Cairo, and 
on my arrival there I procured female attire, and 
laid aside forever (perhaps) my military uniform ; 
but I had become so accustomed to it that I parted 
with it with much reluctance. 

While in Cairo I had the pleasure of seeing the 
celebrated Miss Mary Safford, of whom so much 
has been said and written. 

One writer gives the following account of her, 
which is correct with regard to personal appear- 
ance, and I have no doubt is correct throughout : 

"I cannot close this letter without a passing 
word in regard to one whose name is mentioned 
by thousands of our soldiers with gratitude and 
blessing. 

" Miss Mary Safford is a resident of this town, 
whose life, since the beginning of this war, has 
been devoted to the amelioration of the soldier's 
lot and his comfort in the hospital. 

" She is a young lady, petite in figure, unpre- 
tending, but highly cultivated, by no means offi- 
cious, and so wholly unconscious of her excellencies 
and the great work that she is achieving, that I 
fear this public allusion to her may pain her mod- 
est nature. 

" Her sweet young face, full of benevolence, her 
pleasant voice and winning manner, install her in 



A woman's work. 361 

every one's heart directly ; and the more one sees 
of her the more they admire her great soul and 
noble nature. 

" Not a day elapses but she is found in the hos- 
pitals, unless indeed she is absent on an errand of 
mercy up the Tennessee, or to the hospitals in 
Kentucky. 

" Every sick and wounded soldier in Cairo 
knows and loves her, and, as she enters the ward, 
every pale face brightens at her approach. As she 
passes along she inquires of each one how he had 
passed the night, if he is well supplied with books 
and tracts, and if there is anything she can do for 
him. All tell her their story frankly — the old man 
old enough to be her father, and the boy in his 
teens, all confide in her. 

" For one she must write a letter to his friend 
at home ; she must sit down and read at the cot 
of another ; must procure, if the surgeon will al- 
low it, this or that article of food for a third ; must 
soothe and encourage a fourth who desponds and 
is ready to give up his hold on life ; must pray for 
a fifth who is afraid to die, and wrestle for him till 
light shines through the dark valley ; and so on, 
varied as may be the personal or spiritual wants of 
the sufferers. 

" Surgeons, nurses, medical directors, and army 
officers, are all her true friends, and so judicious 
and trustworthy is she, that the Chicago Sanitary 
Commission have given her carte blanche to draw 



362 REVIEW. 

on their stores at Cairo for anything she may need 
in her errands of mercy in the hospitals. 

" She is performing a noble work, and that too 
in the most quiet and unassuming manner." 

From Cairo I went to Washington, where I 
spent several weeks, until I recovered from my 
fever and was able to endure the fatigue of 
traveling. Then after visiting the hospitals once 
more, and bidding farewell to old scenes and asso- 
ciations, I returned to my friends to recruit my 
shattered health. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

REVIEW OF HOSPITAL AND CAMP LIFE QUESTIONS ANSWERED-— 

BEHIND THE SCENES BLESSED EMPLOYMENT LIVING PAST 

SCENES OVER AGAIN MY MOST IMPORTANT LABORS — MOTHER 

AND SON STRANGE POWER OF SYMPATHY HERo's REPOSE- 
OFFICERS AND MEN — THE BRAVEST ARE KINDEST GENERAL 

SEDGWICK BATTLE SCENES MR. ALVORd's DESCRIPTION 

VOLUNTEER SURGEONS HEART SICKENING SIGHTS AN AWFUL 

PICTURE FEMALE NURSES SENTIMENTAL — PATRIOTIC MEDI- 
CAL DEPARTMENT YOUNG SURGEONS ANECDOTES. 

SINCE I returned to New England there have 
been numerous questions asked me with re- 
gard to hospitals, camp life, etc., which have not 
been fully answered in the preceding narrative, 
and I have thought that perhaps it would not be 
out of place to devote a chapter to that particular 
object. 



BEHIND THE SCENES. 363 

One great question is: "Do the soldiers get the 
clothing and delicacies which we send them — or 
is it true that the surgeons, officers and nurses ap- 
propriate them to their own use ? " 

In reply to this question I dare not assert that 
ail the things which are sent to the soldiers are 
faithfully distributed, and reach the individuals 
for whom they were intended. But I have no 
hesitation in saying that I have reason to believe 
that the cases are very rare where surgeons or 
nurses tamper with those articles sent for the com- 
fort of the sick and wounded. 

If the ladies of the Soldiers' Aid Societies and 
other benevolent organizations could have seen 
even the quantity which I have seen with my own 
eyes distributed, and the smile of gratitude with 
which those supplies are welcomed by the suffer- 
ers, they would think that they were amply re- 
warded for all their labor in preparing them. 

Just let those benevolent hearted ladies imagine 
themselves in my place for a single day ; remov- 
ing blood-clotted and stiffened woollen garments 
from ghastly wounds, and after applying the 
sponge and water remedy, replacing those coarse, 
rough shirts by nice, cool, clean linen ones, then 
dress the wounds with those soft white bandages 
and lint ; take from the express box sheet after 
sheet, and dainty little pillows with their snowy 
cases, until you have the entire hospital supplied 
and every cot looking clean and inviting to the 



364 LIVING OVER THE PAST. 

weary, wounded men — then as they are carried 
and laid upon those comfortable beds, you will 
often see the tears of gratitude gush forth, and 
hear the earnest " God bless the benevolent ladies 
who send us these comforts." 

Then, after the washing and clothing process is | 

gone through with, the nice wine or Boston crack- i 

ers are brought forward, preserved fruits, wines, I 

jellies, etc., and distributed as the different cases f 

may require. '§. 

I have spent whole days in this blessed employ- t 

mant without realizing weariness or fatigue, so 
completely absorbed would I become in my. work, 
and so rejoiced in having those comforts provided 
for our brave, suffering soldiers. 

Time and again, since I have been engaged in 
writing this little narrative, I have thrown down 
my pen, closed my ^eyes, and lived over again 
those hours which I spent in ministering to the 
wants of those noble men, and have longed to 
go back and engage in the same duties once more. 

I look back now upon my hospital labors as 
being the most important and interesting in my 
life's history. The many touching incidents which 
come to my mind as I recall those thrilling scenes 
make me feel as if I should never be satisfied un- 
til I had recorded them all, so that they might 
never be forgotten. One occurs to my mind now 
which I must not omit : 

'' In one of the fierce engagements with the 



POWER OF SYMPATHY. 365 

rebels near Mechanicsville, a young lieutenant of 
a Rhode Island battery had his right foot so shat- 
tered by a fragment of shell that on reaching 
Washington, after one of those horrible ambulance 
rides, and a journey of a week's duration, he was 
obliged to undergo amputation. 

'' He telegraphed home, hundreds of miles away, 
that all was going on well, and with a soldier's 
fortitude composed his mind and determined to 
bear his sufferings alone. Unknown to him, how- 
ever, his mother — one of those dear reserves of 
the army — hastened up to join the main force. 
She reached the city at midnight, and hastened to 
the hospital, but her son being in such a critical 
condition, the nurses would have kept her from 
him until morning. One sat by his side fanning 
him as he slept, her hand on the feeble, fluctuating 
pulsations which foreboded sad results. But what 
woman's heart could resist the pleading of a moth- 
er at such a moment ? In the darkness she was 
finally allowed to glide in and take the nurse's 
place at his side. She touched his pulse as the 
nurse had done. Not a word had been spoken ; 
but the sleeping boy opened his eyes and said : 
*That feels like my mother's hand! Who is this 
beside me ? It is my mother ; turn up the gas 
and let me see mother! ' The two loving faces 
met in one long, joyful, sobbing embrace, and the 
fondness pent up in each heart wept forth its own 
Imguage. 



366 hero's repose. 

" The gallant fellow underwent operation after 
operation, and at last, when death drew near, and 
he was told by tearful friends that it only re- 
mained to make him comfortable, he said he ' had 
looked death in the face too many times to be 
afraid now,' and died as gallantly as did the men 
of the Cumberland." 

When a hero goes 

Unto his last repose, 
When earth's trump of fame shall wake him no more ; 

When m the heavenly land 

Another soul doth stand, 
Who perished for a Nation ere he reached the shore ; 

Whose eyes should sorrow dim ? 

Say, who should mourn for him ? 

Mourn for the traitor — mourn 

When honor is forsworn ; 
When the base wretch sells his land for gold, 

Stands up unblushingly 

And boasts his pertidy. 
Then, then, patriots 1 let your grief be told 

But when God's soldier yieldeth up his breath, 

mourn ye not for him ! it is not death ! 

Another question is frequently asked me — "Are 
not the private soldiers cruelly treated by the offi- 
cers ? " I never knew but a very few instances of 
it, and then it was invariably by mean, cowardly 
officers, who were not fit to be in command of so 
many mules. I have always noticed that the 
bravest and best fighting officers are the kindest 
and most forbearing toward their men. 

An interesting anecdote is told of the late brave 
General Sedgwick, which illustrates this fact: 



THE NOBLE SEDGWICK. 367 

" One daj, while on a march, one of our best 
soldiers had fallen exliansted by fatigue and ill- 
ness, and lay helpless in the road, when an officer 
came dashing along in evident haste to join his 
staff in advance. 

" It was pitiable to see the effort the poor boy 
made to drag his unwilling limbs out of the road. 
He struggled up only to sink back with a look 
that asked only the privilege of lying there undis- 
turbed to die. 

" In an instant he found his head pillowed on 
an arm as gentle as his far-away mother's might 
have been, and a face bent over him expressive of 
the deepest pity. 

" It is characteristic of our brave boys tliat they 
say but little. The uncomplaining w^ords of the 
soldier in this instance were few, but understood. 

" The officer raised him in his arms and placed 
him in his own saddle, supporting the limp and 
swaying figure by one firm arm, while with the 
other he curbed the step of his impatient horse to 
a gentler pace. 

'•For two miles, without a gesture of impa- 
tience, he traveled in this tedious way, until he 
reached an ambulance train and j^laced the sick 
man in one of the ambulances. 

" This was our noble Sedgwick — our brave gen- 
eral of the Sixth Corps — pressed with great anxie- 
ties and knowing the preciousness of every moment. 
Ills men used to say : ' We all know that great 



368 BATTLE SCENES. 

things are to be done, and well done, when we 
see that earnest figure in its rough blouse hur- 
rying past, and never have we been disappointed 
in him. He works incessantly, is unostentatious, 
and when he appears among us all eyes follow 
him with outspoken blessings.' " 

I have often been asked : " Have you ever been 
on a battle-field before the dead and wounded 
were removed ? '' " How did it appear ? " " Please 
describe one." 

I have been on many a battle-field, and have 
often tried to describe the horrible scenes which I 
there witnessed, but have never yet been able to 
find language to express half the horrors of such 
sights as I have seen on those terrible fields. 

The Rev. Mr. Alvord has furnished us with a 
vivid description of a battle-field, which I will 
give for the benefit of those who wish a true and 
horrifying description of those bloody fields : 

'' To-day I have witnessed more horrible scenes 
than ever before since I have been in the army. 
Hundreds of wounded had lain since the battle, 
among rebels, intermingled with heaps of slain — ■ 
hungering, thirsting, and with wounds inflaming 
and festering. Many had died simply from want 
of care. Their last battle was fought! Almost 
every shattered limb required amputation, so pu- 
trid had the wounds become. 

" I was angry (I think without sin) at your vol- 
unteer surgeons. Those of the army were too 



f 



MR. alvord's description. 369 

few, and almost exhausted. But squads of vol- 
unteers, as is usual, had come on without instru- 
ments, and without sense enough to set themselves 
at work in any way, and without any idea of 
dressing small wounds. They wanted to see am- 
putation, and so, while hundreds were crying for 
help, I found five of these gentlemen sitting at 
their ease, with legs crossed, waiting for their ex- 
pected reception by the medical director, who 
was, of course, up to his elbows in work with saw 
and amputating knife. I invited them to assist 
me in my labors among the suffering, but they had 
^not come to nurse' — they were 'surgeons.' 

'' The disgusting details of the field I need not 
describe. Over miles of shattered forest and torn 
earth the dead lie, sometimes in heaps and win- 
rows — I mean literally ! friend and foe, black and 
white, with distorted features, among mangled and 
dead horses, trampled in mud, and thrown in all 
conceivable sorts of places. You can distinctly 
hear, over the whole field, the hum and hissing of 
decomposition. Of course you can imagine shat- 
tered muskets, bayonets, cartridge-boxes, caps, 
torn clothing, cannon-balls, fragments of shell, 
broken artillery, etc. I went over it all just be^ 
fore evening, and after a couple of hours turned 
away in sickening horror from the dreadful sight. 
I write in the midst of the dead, buried and un- 
buried — in the midst of hospitals full of dying, suf- 
fering men, and weary, shattered regiments." 

24 



370 FEMALE NURSES. 

This is a very mild illustration of some battle- 
fields, and yet it presents an awful picture. 

God ! this land grows rich in loyal blood 

■Poured out upon it to its utmost length ! 
The incense of a people's sacrifice — 

The wrested ofteriug of a people's strength. 

It is the costliest land beneath the sun I 

'Tis purchaseless ! and scarce a rood 
But hath its title written clear, and signed 

In some slain hero's consecrated blood. 

And not a flower that gems its mellowing soil 

But thriveth well beneath the holy dew 
Of tears, that ease a nation's straining heart 

When the Lord of Battles smites it through and through. 

Now a word about female nurses who go from 
the North to take care of the soldiers in hospitals. 
I have said but little upon this point, but could 
say much, as I have had ample opportunity for 
observation. 

Many of the noble women who have gone from 
the New England and other loyal States have done, 
and are still doing, a work w^hich will engrave 
their names upon the hearts of the soldiers, as the 
name of Florence Nightingale is engraved upon 
the hearts of her countrymen. 

It is a strange fact that the more highly culti- 
vated and refined the ladies are, they make all the 
better nurses. They are sure to submit to incon- 
venience and privations with a much better grace 
than those of the lower classes. 

It is true we have some sentimental young la- 



REAL AND IDEAL. 371 

dies, who go down there and expect to find every- 
thing in drawing-room style, with nothing to do 
but sit and fan handsome young mustached heroes 
in shoulder-straps, and read poetry, etc. ; and on 
finding the real somewhat different from the ideal^ 
which their ardent imaginations had created, they 
become homesick at once, and declare that they 
*' cannot endure such work as washing private sol- 
diers' dirty faces and combing tangled, matted 
hair; and, what is more, won't do it." So after 
making considerable fuss, and trailing round in 
very long silk skirts for several days, until every- 
body becomes disgusted, they are politely invited 
by the surgeon in charge to migrate to some more 
congenial atmosphere. 

But the patriotic, whole-souled, educated woman 
twists up her hair in a " cleared-for-action " sort 
of style, rolls up the sleeves of her plain cotton 
dress, and goes to work washing dirty faces, 
hands and feet, as if she knew just what to do and 
how to do it. And when she gets through with 
that part of the programme, she is just as willing 
to enter upon some new duty,* whether it is writing 
letters for the boys or reading for them, adminis- 
tering medicine or helping to dress wounds. And 
everything is done so cheerfully that one would 
think it was really a pleasure instead of a disagree- 
able task. 

But the medical department is unquestionably 
the greatest institution in the whole arm}" I will 



372 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 

not attempt to anwer all the questions I have been 
asked concerning it, but will say that there are 
many true stories, and some false ones, circulated 
with regard to that indispensable fraternity. 

I think I may freely say that there is a shadow 
of truth in that old story of "whiskey" and ''in- 
competency " which we have so often heard ap- 
plied to individuals in the medical department, 
who are intrusted with the treatment, and often 
the lives of our soldiers. 

There is a vast difference in surgeons ; some are 
harsh and cruel — whether it is from habit or insen- 
sibility I am not prepared to say — but I know the 
men would face a rebel battery with less forebo- 
dings than they do some of our worthy surgeons. 

There is a class who seem to act upon the prin- 
ciple of '' no smart no cure,'' if w^e may be allowed 
to judge from the manner in which they twitch 
off bandages and the scientific twists and jerks 
given to shattered limbs. 

Others again are very gentle and tender with 
the men, and seem to study how to perform the 
necessary operations with the least possible pain 
to the patients. 

But the young surgeons, fresh from the dissect- 
ing room, when operating in conjunction with our 
old Western practitioners, forcibly reminded me 
of the anecdote of the young collegian teaching 
his grandmother to suck an egg: "We make an 
incision at the apex and an aperture at the base ; 



CLOSING INCIDENTS. 373 

then making a vacuum with the tongue and pal- 
ate, we suffer the contained matter to be protruded 
into the mouth by atmospheric pressure." "La! 
how strange ! " said his grandmother ; "in my day 
we just made a hole in each end, and then sucked 
it without half that trouble." 

I once saw a young surgeon amputate a limb, 
and I could think of nothing else than of a Ken- 
nebec Yankee whom I once saw carve a Thanks- 
giving turkey ; it was his first attempt at carving, 
and the way in which he disjointed those limbs I 
shall never forget. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

CLOSING INCIDENTS — PROFESSOR LOWe's BALLOON FITZ JOHN 

porter's ADVENTURE HIS UPWARD FLIGHT RECONNOITERING 

FROM A DANGEROUS POSITION COOL COURAGE ENTHUSIAS- 
TIC GREETING AN EARNEST INQUIRER A BAPTISM IN THE 

ARMY PREACHING BY MOONLIGHT A MAGNIFICENT SCENE 

A WEDDING IN CAxMP GAY TIMES A CONTRAST HOSPITAL IN 

WINCHESTER SPIRIT OF REVENGE — SABLE HEROINE A WHITE 

DARKEY — COLORED SOLDIERS CONCLUSION. 

IN looking back over the events of the two 
years which I spent in the army, I see so much 
worthy of record I scarcely know where to stop. 
A most thrilling incident occurs to my mind at 
this moment in connection with Professor Lowe 
and his balloon, which I must relate before closing. 



374 BALLOONING. 

It took place while McClellan's army was in front 
of Yorktown. 

General Fitz John Porter having been in the 
habit of making frequent ascensions in company 
with Professor Lowe, learned to go aloft alone. 

One morning he stepped into the car and or- 
dered the cable to be let out with all speed. We 
saw with surprise that the flurried assistants were 
sending up the great straining canvas with a sin- 
gle rope attached. The enormous bag was only 
partially inflated, and the loose folds opened and 
shut with a sharp report like that of a pistol. 
Noisily, fitfully, the great yellow mass rose toward 
the sky, the basket rocking like a feather in the 
breeze. Presently a sound came from overhead 
like the explosion of a shell — the cable had snapped 
asunder, and the balloon was adrift. 

All eyes were turned toward the receding car, 
where General Porter sat in his aerial castle, being 
borne heavenward as fast as if on eagle wings, 
without the power either to check or guide his 
upward flight. 

The whole army was agitated by this unwonted 
occurrence, and the rebel army evidently partook 
in the general excitement. 

Lowe's voice could be heard above the confu- 
sion and tumult shouting to the soaring hero — 
'' Open — the — valve ! Climb — to — the — netting 
•--and — reach — the valve — rope! " 

" The valve — the valve ! " repeated a multitude 



PORTER S FLIGHT. 375 

of voices, but all in vain, for it was impossible to 
make him hear. 

Soon the signal corps began to operate, and at 
last the general was made to understand by sig- 
nals when it was impossible to reach him by the 
hum. an voice. 

He appeared directly over the edge of the car, 
and then clambered up the netting and reached 
for the cord, but he was so far above us then he 
looked no bigger than a great black spider. 

It was a weird spectacle — that frail, fading ob- 
ject floating in the azure sky, with the miniature 
boat swinging silently beneath, looking no bigger 
than a humming-bird's nest ; and a hundred thou- 
sand brave hearts beneath beating with the wild- 
est excitement and warmest sympathy, yet power- 
less to render the least assistance to their exalted 
brother-in-arms. 

'' Had the general been floating down the rapids 
of Niagara he could not have been farther from 
human assistance." 

We at length saw him descend from the netting 
and reappear over the edge of the basket, and he 
seemed to be motioning to the breathless crowd 
below the story of his failure. 

Soon after the balloon began slowly to descend, 
and when we next saw him it was with spyglass 
in hand, reconnoitering the rebel works. Shouts 
of joy and laughter went up from the long lines 
of spectators as this cool procedure was observed. 



I 



376 COOL COURAGE. 

For a moment it seemed doubtful in which di- 
rection the balloon would float ; it fixltered like an 
irresolute being, and at length moved reluctantly 
toward Fortress Monroe. Bursting cheers, half 
uttered, quivered on every lip. All eyes glistened, 
and many were dim with tears. But the wayward 
canvas now turned due west, and was blown ra> 
pidly toward the confederate works. 

Its course was fitfully direct, and the wind 
seemed to veer often, as if contrary currents, con- 
scious of the opportunity, were struggling for the 
possession of the daring navigator. 

The south wind held the mastery for awhile, 
and the balloon passed the Federal front amid 
groans of despair from the soldiers. It kept right 
on, over sharpshooters, rifle-pits, etc., until it stood 
directly over the rebel fortifications at Yorktown. 
The cool courage, either of heroism or despair, 
seemed to seize the general, for turning his tre- 
mendous glass upon the ramparts and masked bat- 
teries below, he viewed the remote camps, the 
beleaguered town, the guns of Gloucester Point, 
and distant Norfolk. Had he been reconnoitering 
from a secure perch on the top of the moon he 
could not have been more vigilant; and the Con- 
federates probably thought this some Yankee de- 
vice to peer into their sanctum in spite of ball or 
shell. None of their large guns could be brought 
to bear upon the balloon, but there were some dis- 
eharges of musketry, which seemed to have no 



INTERESTING SCENE. 377 

effect whatever, and finally even these demonstra- 
tions ceased. 

Both armies were gazing aloft in breathless sus- 
pense, while the deliberate general continued to 
spy out the land. 

Suddenly another change of position, and the 
air craft plunged and tacked about, and steered 
rapidly for the Federal lines again. Making a des- 
perate effort to catch the valve-rope, the general 
at length succeeded, and giving it a jerk, the bal- 
loon came suddenly to the ground ; fortunately, 
however, it struck a tent as it descended, which 
perhaps saved the general from any serious injuries 
from the fall. 

By the time the crowd had reached the spot, 
Porter had disentangled himself from the folds of 
oiled canvas, and was ready to greet his anxious 
friends ; and amid hearty congratulations and vo- 
ciferous cheers, he was escorted to his quarters. 

As this chapter is devoted to incidents in camp, 
I will try to illustrate the variety of interesting 
events with which our camps abound. 

After one of the most severe battles ever fought 
in Virginia, and while our troops were still rejoic- 
ing over their victory, a young soldier sought the 
chaplain for the purpose of religious conversation. 
Said the chaplain : " The tears were in his eyes, 
and his lips trembled with emotion. I knew that 
he was in earnest. We knelt down together and 
I prayed with him, and he prayed for himself In 



378 A BAPTISM. 

this manner we spent several hours, pleading with 
God in his behalf, until light broke through the 
darkness, and he arose from his knees praising 
God." 

Wishing to manifest by some outward sign his 
consecration to God and to His service, he re- 
quested the chaplain to baptize him by immersion. 
The next day being the Sabbath his request was 
complied with, in the presence of thousands of his 
comrades. 

The scene was a most solemn one, and after the 
ordinance was administered there was scarcely a 
dry eye in the company to which he belonged. 

In the evening one of the delegates of the 
Christian Commission preached to an immense 
congregation of grim warriors seated on the 
ground — a little pine grove for a church, the 
great blue dome of heaven for galleries, and the 
clear, bright moon for a chandelier. 

The scene was a magnificent one. A little to 
the right lay a cloud of white canvas tents shining 
in the moonlight, and just below, in plain sight, 
were the transports dotting the water, with their 
gleaming lights and star-spangled banners floating 
in the evening breeze. All combined to make the 
scene beautiful and interesting. 

The discourse was excellent and well chosen, 
and the men listened with profound attention, and 
I have no doubt with much profit. Then was sung 

Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing, 



i 



A WEDDING. 379 

and the benediction being pronounced, the vast 
assembly marched to their quarters as solemnly as 
if going from a funeral. 

Next came a wedding ! Yes ; a real wedding 
in camp. You must know that when military ne- 
cessity prevents our young heroes from going 
home to fulfill their engagements to their devoted 
fair ones, it is the privilege of the waiting dam- 
sels, in war times, to remove all unnecessary ob- 
stacles, and facilitate matters by declaring them^ 
selves in flivor of the union^ and claiming their 
lovers on the field. 

This wedding was a grand affair, and took place 
in a camp which was very prettily decorated, 
being picturesquely arranged among pine trees — 
just the most romantic place imaginable for such 
an event. 

A little before noon the guests began to arrive 
in large numbers. Among them were Generals 
Hooker, Sickles, Carr, Mott, Hobart, Ward, Revere, 
Bartlett, Birney, and Berry. 

The troops, looking their very best, formed a 
hollow square, in the center of which a canopy was 
erected, and an altar formed of drums. 

As the generals marched into the square — Gen- 
eral Hooker leading the van — and grouped them- 
selves on each side of the altar, the bands^ struck 
up '' Hail to the Chief," and on the appearance of 
the bridal party the "Wedding March" was 
played. 



380 GAY TIMES. 

The day was cold and windy, with a few snow- 
flakes interspersed, which made the ladies in at- 
tendance look very much like ''blue noses"; but 
the blushing bride bore the cold and the ad- 
miring glances of the soldiers like a martyr, and 
retained her dignity and self-possession throughout 
the ceremony worthy of a heroine, as she was. 

To add to the dramatic effect of the scene, a 
line of battle was formed by the remaining troops 
in that section, a short distance from camp, to re- 
pel an expected attack of the enemy. 

The ceremony having been performed, dinner 
was announced, and all partook of the good things 
provided for the occasion. 

After dinner, came numerous toasts, speeches, 
songs, and music from the bands, and, to close up 
the day in good style, a regular military ball Avas 
held, and fireworks exhibited in the evening — 
*'and on the whole," a newspaper correspondent 
says, '' it entirely eclipsed an opera at the Acade- 
my of Music." 

I have before alluded to the vindictive spirit 
manifested by the women of Virginia toward our 
soldiers. I will illustrate this fact by an incident 
which took place in one of the hospitals just after 
a severe battle. 

Many wounded soldiers, both Union and Con- 
federate, were brought into the town of Winches- 
ter, and placed in the churches and court-house 
side by side. 



i 



SPIRIT OF REVENGE. 381 

The ladies (beg pardon, ladies, I mean females) 
or' tiiat place brought into the hospital many things 
to nourish ard tempt the appetites of the sufferers, 
but they gave all these delicacies to the Confeder- 
ate soldiers : our men were passed by as unworthy 
of notice or sympathy. 

One day a lady, who had been a constant visit- 
or, brought in a supply of fragrant tea. She went 
from one cot to another of her friends, hat had no 
eye or heart of pity for others. 

One of our wounded men, who lay near hU end, 
longed for a cup of this tea as he saw it handed to 
those around him, and requested the chaplain, who 
stood by his side, to ask the lady for a little of 
the tea. 

He did so in a very polite manner, at the sams 
time telling her how ill the man was, and that it was 
the soldier himself who wished him to make the 
request. 

"No," said she, and her face flushed with an- 
ger ; '' not a drop of it ; this tea is all for our suf 
fering martyrs." 

The chaplain replied : '' Madam, I looked for no 
other answer. I beg pardon for having seemed 
for a moment to expect a different one." 

A few moments afterwards, as the poor disap- 
pointed man lay there seeing the delicious tea 
passed on all sides of him and could not procure 
a drop of it, an old lame negro woman came limp, 
ing up the aisle with a large basket on each arm. 



382 SABLE HEROINE. 

Coming up to where the chaplain stood, she 
/aid down the baskets and addressed him thus : 

"Massa, I'se a slave — my husban' and chiren is 
slaves. Will you 'cept dese tings for de poor men ?" 

Then taking up a roll of stockings, she said-. 
'' Dem I knit wid my own hands for de soldiers, 
when all sleep, in my cabin. We know'd dis war 
was comin' long 'fore you Yankees did. We see 
it 'proaching, an' we began to prepare for it." 

Then taking packages of tea, cans of fruit, pears 
and peaches, lint, linen for bandages, and pocket- 
handkerchiefs, she said: "Massa, permit me to 
give you dese for de poor men. I have not stole 
'em. My own hands have earned 'em over de 
washtub. I wish to do something for de Union 
soldiers. Lord bless 'em ! " 

"As she talked," says the chaplain, "she grew 
more earnest, and looking around on the mutilated 
men the tears rolled down her black face, and fell 
on her hands, as she lifted the treasures out of the 
baskets and handed them to me." 

Our sick men looked with wonder and admira- 
tion on the old colored woman, and soon a hun- 
dred voices cried out " God bless you, aunty ! 
You are the only white woman we have seen since 
we came to Winchester." 

Some people assert that colored people have no 
souls. Which, think you, acted most as if lacking 
soul — the black or the white woman in the hospi- 
ral at Winchester? 



COLORED SOLDIERS. 383 

The devotion of the negro woman, as manifested 
in the hospital, is a perfect sample of the devotion 
of the contrabands, male and female, to the Union 
cause. 

And now that the time has come when the 
colored men are permitted, by the laws of the 
land, to assume the privileges of rational beings, 
and to go forth as American soldiers to meet their 
cruel oppressors on the bloody field, there is evi- 
dently as great, if not greater, enthusiasm and true 
patriotism manifested by them, as by any troops 
in the United States army. 

And still further — it has been proved satisfacto- 
rily within the last twelve months that the colored 
troops endure fatigue as cheerfully and fight as 
well (and get less pay) as any of the vrhite troops. 
Thank God, this is one great point gained for the 
poor down-trodden descendants of Africa. 

I imagine I see them, with their great shiny 
eyes and grinning faces, as they march to the field, 
singing — 

Oh ! we're de bully soldiers of de " First of Arkansas," 
We are figlitin' for de Union, we are figlitin' for de law, 
We can hit a rebel furder dan a white man eber saw, 

As we go marchin' on: 

Glory, glory, hallelujah, eta 

See darl above de center, where de flag is wavin' bright; 
We are goin' out of slavery ; we are bound for freedom's light; 
We mean to show Jeff. Davis how de Africans can fight 1 

Glory, glory, hallelujah, 

Glory, glory, hallelujah, 

Glory, glory, hallelujah, 

As we go marching on. 



384 CONCLUSION. 

And now, wliat shall I say in conclusion ? The 
war still continues — our soldiers are daily falling 
in battle, and thousands are languishing in hospi- 
tals or in Southern prisons ; and I for months past 
have not given even a cup of cold water to the 
sufferers. I am ashamed to acknowledge it ! But 
when I look around and see the streets crowded 
with strong, healthy young men who ought to be 
foremost in the ranks of their country's defenders, 
I am not only ashamed, but I am indignant ! 

To prove to my friends that I am not ambitious 
of gaining the reputation of that venerable gene- 
ral (Halleck) whose '^pen is mightier than his 
sword," 1 am about to return to the army to offer 
my services in any capacity which will best pro- 
mote the interests of the Federal cause — no matter 
how perilous the position may be. 

And now I lay aside my pen, hoping that after 
*'this cruel war is over," and peace shall have 
once more shed her sweet influence over our land, 
I may be permitted to resume it again to record 
the annihilation of rebellion, and the final triumph 
of Truth, Right, and Liberty. 

Lord of Peace, who art Lord of Righteousness, 
Constrain the anguished worlds«from sin and grief, 
Pierce them witli conscience, purge them with redress, 
And give us peace wuich is no counterfeit! 






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